Royal snub as Prince William and Kate Middleton ban BBC from airing Christmas concert

The ongoing feud between the Royal family and the BBC has heated up as Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge ban the British broadcaster from airing their annual Christmas carol concert following anger over a controversial royal documentary.

The charity fundraiser will instead air on ITV with Kate Middleton taking on hosting duties. Prince William along with the couple’s three children Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and three-year-old Prince Louis are also expected to attend as reported by The Sun.

The royal pair decided to turn their back on the British broadcaster after it aired an explosive documentary, The Princes and the Press, which featured claims concerning the alleged feud between Princes William and Harry. It’s been reported that the Royal family was not given an early screening of the documentary or offered a right of reply to allegations made in the two-part series.

Royal carol concert offered to ITV after BBC documentary dispute https://t.co/2LZJd60IYU

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) November 24, 2021

Following the first installment, the Royal Family issued a rare joint statement from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace.

”A free, responsible and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy. However, too often it is overblown and unfounded claims from unnamed sources that are presented as facts and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credibility,” the statement said.

A television source told The Sun that the royals’ move away from the BBC was “a real coup for ITV” and its expected the Royal family will work with ITV more moving forward.

“ITV were very surprised but delighted to get the late call offering them this incredible exclusive,” the source said.

“It was all arranged to be on BBC1 but it was switched in the last few days because of the terrible row over the documentary.

“And things are likely to get a lot worse between the Royal Family and the BBC before they get better as the second part of the documentary threatens to go further.”

Part one of the BBC documentary tells the story of “the most dramatic periods in royal history for a generation”. While part two is described as detailing “a tumultuous time for the royals that includes the birth of Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and the royal tours of the Sussexes and the Cambridges” as well as “the circumstances surrounding the Sussexes’ decision to step down from their senior royal roles”.

The ITV Christmas carol concert is expected to air around December 23 or 24.