Former BBC journalist Tom Bower has faced backlash after launching into an explosive rant about the late Princess Diana on The Royals Uncensored. Joining Katie Nicholl to discuss the claims in Earl Spencer's book, Swan Song, Bower argued that Diana was a "junkie for publicity" rather than a "victim of the paparazzi".
Bower dismisses Harry's view of his mother
Bower argued that Prince Harry has a "completely wrong" perception of his mother, saying: "This idea that Diana's legacy depends on Harry, who has this ridiculous notion that his mother was the victim of the paparazzi in the press, when it's she who kept on seeking out the press to talk to them and promote her own version of the marriage and of herself."
He added: "I mean, she was a complete and utter junkie for publicity. So he's got his mother completely wrong."
Comments on a possible Harry documentary
Discussing a potential documentary by Harry, Bower said: "But I think the telling point in the forthcoming documentary, if it is made [by Harry], is whether it is just the glory of Diana, which would, I think, be of little financial interest to a streamer or a television station. Whether he's going to bring in the marriage, the dirt, and all the controversy, which will make it more interesting."
Criticism of Earl Spencer's claims
During the interview, Bower also criticised Earl Spencer for suggesting that King Charles was "anything but mortified" when Diana died. Noting that it would have been "completely out of character" for the monarch, who was grieving at Balmoral, Bower surmised that Spencer had made his claims to cause the King "damage".
Bower said: "I think Charles Spencer, in my conversations with him about Prince Charles, as he then was, was very critical and scoffing, looked down on him. There was some sort of rivalry, there was envy, there was irritation. The aristocrats invariably have vendettas against each other, but I think the two Charleses didn't get on."
Suggesting that Spencer likely injected "a bit of colour, a bit of juice" into his memoir, Bower argued that the Earl had clearly sided with Prince Harry against his father.
Viewers react on X
Following his appearance on The Royals Uncensored, several viewers flocked to X, hitting back at his "disgusting" remarks about Princess Diana and her family. "What an evil little man Tom Bowers is," tweeted one. "Sorry, but this feels disgusting??? Why are you attacking a dead woman just to get at her grieving son?" fumed a second.
Meanwhile, a third quipped: "Imagine Tom Bower, who did not personally know Diana, thinking he knows better than Diana's own son. A bunch of vultures."
