Today in 1995, Diana, Princess of Wales, spoke openly for the first time about her separation from the Prince of Wales in a frank interview for the BBC's Panorama programme.  During her hour-long conversation with BBC reporter Martin Bashir, she admitted to an adulterous affair with her riding instructor, James Hewitt.  She also described her hurt at her husband's relationship with long-term friend Camilla Parker-Bowles, but said she did not want to divorce.  The Princess spoke freely about her depression and bulimia, her children, the media and the future of the monarchy.  23 million people watched the programme.  A month later, the Queen wrote to her son Charles, Prince of Wales, and to Princess Diana asking them to seek an early divorce.  Their marriage ended with the issue of a decree nisi on 28 August 1996.  As part of the divorce settlement Diana was stripped of her royal title - Her Royal Highness - and instead became known as Diana, Princess of Wales.   It is understood she was awarded a £17m lump sum and £350,000 a year to run her private office.  Diana and Charles agreed to share custody of their sons.  On 31 August 1997, Diana died in a car crash with her companion Dodi Fayed in Paris.   A French investigation found the driver had drunk too much and was driving too fast and criticised photographers chasing the car for their behaviour.  Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles were married in April 2005 in a small, private civil wedding followed by a blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Windsor Castle.  The Queen did not attend the wedding, although she was there at the blessing and hosted a reception afterwards.

Controversy about the interview and Martin Bashir’s deceit in obtaining it concluded in his resignation from the BBC in 2021 after an inquiry by Supreme Court Judge John Dyson found Bashir "unreliable, devious and dishonest.”