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Diana's Family, Voice Coach Battling Over Tapes

Aired November 05, 2003 - 11:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Six years after her death, Princess Diana has more to say about her failed marriage and royal misery. Her family and voice coach are fighting today over 20 videotapes. On those tapes the princess apparently says a few things that could be considered rather embarrassing to the Royal family.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in London with the tale of these tapes. Walter, hello.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. We're a little ahead of ourselves. But what we have here is not so much a story as a tease. The story, which has not been published yet, is one which is said to be dynamite, which would rock the very core of the British Royal family.

Where we are at this point is that the British High Court has twice issued gag orders preventing London newspapers from publishing the name of a former royal servant. The servant claims that if his name is published in connection with the story which the newspapers want to write it will be libelous. Indeed. "The Mail on Sunday" now claims a member of the British Royal family has warned the newspapers against publishing the name of this former palace servant.

There are several crucial issues involved. The newspapers say it's basically a matter of freedom of speech. They argue they should be allowed to publish the name of the former royal servant and the story connected with him. And that then they should be -- if someone has a case for libel, they should take to it the courts. Otherwise they say it's prior restraint.

The real issue for the British media here at this point is are there two standards of justice? One which protects the Royal family or people in high places and one for everybody else? And that's what's being argued at this point -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. We will see how it plays out there in London. Thank you for that, Walter Rodgers.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 5, 2003 - 11:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Six years after her death, Princess Diana has more to say about her failed marriage and royal misery. Her family and voice coach are fighting today over 20 videotapes. On those tapes the princess apparently says a few things that could be considered rather embarrassing to the Royal family.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in London with the tale of these tapes. Walter, hello.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. We're a little ahead of ourselves. But what we have here is not so much a story as a tease. The story, which has not been published yet, is one which is said to be dynamite, which would rock the very core of the British Royal family.

Where we are at this point is that the British High Court has twice issued gag orders preventing London newspapers from publishing the name of a former royal servant. The servant claims that if his name is published in connection with the story which the newspapers want to write it will be libelous. Indeed. "The Mail on Sunday" now claims a member of the British Royal family has warned the newspapers against publishing the name of this former palace servant.

There are several crucial issues involved. The newspapers say it's basically a matter of freedom of speech. They argue they should be allowed to publish the name of the former royal servant and the story connected with him. And that then they should be -- if someone has a case for libel, they should take to it the courts. Otherwise they say it's prior restraint.

The real issue for the British media here at this point is are there two standards of justice? One which protects the Royal family or people in high places and one for everybody else? And that's what's being argued at this point -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. We will see how it plays out there in London. Thank you for that, Walter Rodgers.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com