Prince Harry’s Oprah chat branded ‘hypocritical’ after CBS published distressing picture of Princess Diana after crash
PRINCE Harry’s decision to give his bombshell interview to CBS has been branded “hypocritical” after the network published distressing pictures of Princess Diana moments after her 1997 car crash.
The broadcaster sparked outrage in 2004 for showing a “distasteful” photo of Harry’s mother after the fatal incident in Paris.
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At the time, Prince William and Harry issued a rare statement condemning the photo, saying they were “deeply saddened that such a low has been reached”.
Diana’s brother Earl Spencer also said he was “shocked and sickened by CBS’ actions”, while then-Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was “distasteful" and would “cause distress to the family”.
The decision to use the photo, which was shown as part of a report called Diana Secrets in 2004, was defended by the broadcaster - who insisted it was “not gory”.
The photo also later appeared in Italian magazine Chi - but has never been published by a British media outlet.
'DEEPLY DISTRESSING'
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers branded Harry’s decision to give the interview to the network “embarrassing”.
He told the Daily Mail: “It is quite embarrassing for Prince Harry.
“How could he possibly co-operate with an organisation which some years ago was the only outlet to publish a deeply distressing photo of his mother’s dying moment?
“It is pretty hypocritical of him. I suppose he didn’t remember, or maybe he had no choice because of contracts signed?
“If he was still being advised by the Palace, they would have spotted this sort of thing a mile off.”
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Prince Harry is due to reunite with brother William on July 1 - what would have been Diana's 60th birthday.
A statue of their mother is to be unveiled at Kensington Palace, and it is hoped the event may bring the brothers closer once more.
In his and Meghan's tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey last week, Harry said the pair were "on different paths", but added: "I love William to bits, he's my brother, we've been through hell together."