Jennie Bond, the BBC's Royal Correspondent for 14 years, has detailed her 'challenging' and 'momentous' interview with Lady Diana Spencer during a 1997 trip to Angola. Bond discussed the encounter while appearing on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, a repeat of which aired on BBC Two on June 20, 2026.
Bond's Friendship with Diana
Bond, who struck up a close professional friendship with Diana during her tenure, told antiques expert Raj Bisram that the princess shared confidences with her. 'I was a journalist that she got along with and shared confidences with,' Bond said. 'You know, "There were three of us in this marriage," all this sort of stuff.' However, Diana often added, 'Of course, Jennie, this is just between you and me and these four walls,' leaving Bond frustrated but honouring the trust.
The 'Momentous' Angola Interview
When asked which interview left the greatest impression, Bond recalled confronting Diana in Angola on her land mine mission. 'I said, "Ma'am, you've been accused of being a loose cannon," and she was very shocked and said, "I'm just trying to be a humanitarian. That's it,"' Bond explained. 'That was pretty momentous. It made an awful lot of news.'
At the time, a junior government Cabinet minister had described Diana as a 'loose cannon' for her stance on landmines. The tense exchange was captured in a documentary, showing Diana's visibly moved response. She told the camera team, 'I might really burst into tears now. Who said I'm a loose cannon?'
Bond's Career and Legacy
Bond's journalism career spans over five decades. She became the BBC's Royal Correspondent in 1989, a role she held until 2003 when she stepped down to focus on family and freelance work. Her friendship with Diana provided unique insights into the princess's humanitarian efforts.
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
