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Dimbleby’s BBC Inquiry Puts Royal Power and Purpose Under Fresh Scrutiny

Episode one draws on court disclosures with insider testimony to test how far royal influence reaches.

Overview

  • Critics highlight a newly combative tone, with Dimbleby questioning the BBC’s historic caution toward scrutinising the Palace.
  • Court-released correspondence shows Charles, as Prince of Wales, lobbying ministers on issues from farming to military helicopters.
  • Contributors contend the monarchy’s practical authority is limited, pointing to the queen’s inability to stop the 2019 prorogation of parliament.
  • The programme probes financial opacity, noting the lack of a public inventory for valuable royal assets and raising concerns about Crown Estate-linked funding.
  • Interviews with Edward Young, Paul Richards, David Cameron and historians offer contrasting views on influence, as reviewers flag the notable omission of the Bashir–Diana interview footage.