The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are reported to have offered their Christmas carol concert to ITV after a dispute with the BBC over a new documentary. The event, originally set to be broadcast by the BBC, will now be shown on ITV, according to The Sun.
The concert, to be hosted by Kate at Westminster Abbey, is expected to be recorded in early December. It is understood that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis may feature in the programme, though Kensington Palace has not confirmed this. BBC Studios will continue to produce the show despite the change in broadcaster.
The move follows the broadcast of BBC Two's The Princes and the Press, which examined the relationship between Prince William, Prince Harry and the media. The documentary included suggestions of negative stories being leaked about the Duchess of Sussex and rivalries between royal households. In response, the royal households issued a joint statement criticising the BBC for giving credibility to "overblown and unfounded claims".
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said there was "undoubted irritation" in the royal households, particularly at Kensington Palace and from Prince William. He noted that Prince William still feels aggrieved over the BBC's Panorama interview with Princess Diana. "It appears that the BBC is to be punished," he added.
BBC chairman Richard Sharp said the BBC approaches relationships with national institutions "with great care and thought", adding that the corporation has "tremendous respect" for the Royal Family. He acknowledged that from time to time the BBC produces programmes that may not meet with full agreement from different parts of the establishment.
ITV has not publicly confirmed the concert's inclusion in its festive schedule, but reports suggest it could air on 23 or 24 December. The programme will be in addition to ITV's usual Carols at Christmas. Representatives for the BBC, BBC Studios, ITV and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge declined to comment.
