A rare joint statement has been issued by the three main royal households criticising the BBC for airing ‘overblown and unfounded claims’ in a documentary.

Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace have said it is ‘disappointing’ that the broadcaster has given ‘credibility’ to such claims.

The first episode of the two-part The Princes And The Press programme, presented by Amol Rajan, aired on Monday night.

It included suggestions that royal sources had been briefing journalists behind the scenes, including potentially leaking negative stories about other households.

But it stopped short of repeating allegations that William’s aides briefed against his brother Harry in the aftermath of the younger prince’s decision to quit the royal family.

The controversial documentary – which explores the relationship of the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex with the media – had bristled the royals before it aired, particularly because they were not given a chance to see it before the rest of the nation.

In a statement given to the BBC, and shown at the end of the programme, the three households said: ‘A free, responsible and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy.

‘However, too often it is overblown and unfounded claims from unnamed sources that are presented as facts and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credibility.’

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The programme examined the treatment of William and Harry by the media since childhood.

It featured an interview with a private investigator, Gavin Burrows, who claimed he was employed to carry out surveillance on Harry’s girlfriend Chelsy Davy in the early 2000s.

During the programme, a lawyer for the Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex also responded to reports in 2018 about Meghan’s alleged treatment of palace staff.

In March, The Times newspaper reported that the duchess allegedly drove out two personal assistants and ‘humiliated’ staff on several occasions, which she denies.

An investigation has since been launched by Buckingham Palace and the royal household has tasked an external legal team to assist its human resources team looking at allegations made against the former Suits star.

Jenny Afia, from the law firm Schillings, told Rajan on the programme: ‘Those stories were false. This narrative that no one can work for the Duchess of Sussex, she was too difficult and demanding as a boss and everyone had to leave, it’s just not true.’

Following the airing of the programme, a report published in The Sun claimed that William banned aides from briefing against family members.

According to the newspaper, the duke was ‘clear’ he did not want aides to say anything about the other households after he saw reports during the split of his parents.

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