What Princess Diana reportedly regretted in her final days

More than two decades after her death, a new People Magazine report has shed light on a private admission made by Princess Diana in the final days of her life. According to the publication, Diana confided in a close friend just ten days before her death that she regretted taking part in her 1995 Panorama interview, expressing concern about the impact it had on her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

The interview, conducted by journalist Martin Bashir for the BBC, became one of the most talked-about moments of Diana’s life. In it, she spoke openly about her marriage to Prince Charles, the pressures of royal life and her personal struggles. While it was initially seen as a moment of honesty and vulnerability, it later emerged that Bashir had used deceptive and unethical methods to secure her participation, including the use of falsified documents to gain her trust.

According to the report, Diana’s regret was not rooted in what she shared, but in the effect the interview may have had on her children. Those close to her at the time said her primary concern, even in her final days, remained William and Harry’s wellbeing and their exposure to intense public and media scrutiny.

This private reflection adds further context to the findings of a 2021 independent investigation into the BBC’s conduct. The inquiry concluded that the broadcaster failed in its duty of care and that Bashir’s actions played a significant role in manipulating the circumstances surrounding the interview. Following the investigation, the BBC issued a formal apology to the royal family for the manner in which the programme was obtained.

Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997 at the age of 36. In the years since, her life has been examined through documentaries, biographies and public discourse. This newly reported moment of personal regret offers a quieter, more intimate perspective on her state of mind in the days leading up to her death.

Rather than rewriting history, the revelation highlights the complexity of Diana’s experience and the weight of her role as a mother navigating unprecedented public attention. Once again, her sons remain at the centre of her story.