6 MARCH 2003
The Duchess of York has launched a broadside against renowned journalist Martin Bashir over his 1995 interview with Princess Diana. Sarah Ferguson says the reporter lured Diana into a false sense of security in order to make her reveal secrets in front of the camera.

Appearing on US television, the Duchess asserted that her sister-in-law would never have spoken so openly, had she not been duped. Her comments come after Martin's controversial interview with Michael Jackson, in which the singer admitted to sharing his bed with young boys.

Princess Diana famously told Martin "there were three people in this marriage", in a reference to her husband's affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.

"I think that she never would have said all the things she said if it hadn't been for the way Martin tricked her," said Sarah. "He lulled her into a comfort zone by being this wonderfully magnanimous man and saying 'I'm a family man as well'. He got her to talk that way."

Jackson meanwhile claims to have been "devastated and betrayed" by his interview, and has since launched legal proceedings against production company Granada. Martin has rejected all accusations of wrongdoing, however, and his interview with Diana is thought to have hugely boosted her public reputation.

A spokesman for Granada says it finds Sarah's remarks confusing in the light of the fact she sent Martin her congratulations after the Jackson interview was screened.