Mishal Husain's brutal comeback to Meghan Markle after 'reality show' interview claim

It was exactly seven years to the day that Mishal Husain was given one of her most high-profile jobs at the BBC - to interview Prince Harry and Meghan Markle about their engagement but it later resulted in a war of words

Seven years ago today, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with the BBC's Mishal Husain to talk about their bombshell news.

Earlier that day in 2017, the Sussexes had revealed their plans to marry and in keeping with tradition, they gave an interview about their happy news. And Mishal - who revealed today she is to quit the BBC after 27 years - was given the job of chatting to the pair.

In the chat, Mishal managed to tease out of the couple that Harry had popped the question as they roasted a chicken and that Meghan's new engagement ring contained two diamonds that belonged to the late Princess Diana.

However, fast forward several years and the interview came under fire in Harry and Meghan's highly controversial Netflix documentary. Meghan claimed in the show that they were "not allowed" to tell their story and it was instead an "orchestrated reality show" when they gave the interview to the BBC.

Reflecting on the interview, Meghan said: "It was rehearsed. We did the thing outside with the press, we went right inside, took the coat off and did the interview. It was all in the same moment." She added: "My point is we weren't allowed to tell our story because they didn't allow it."

However, BBC journalist Mishal strongly disputed Meghan's claim while on BBC Radio 4's Today show, shortly after the Netflix documentary premiered. She said: "We know recollections may vary on this particular subject but my recollection is definitely very much, asked to do an interview, and do said interview."

It also prompted the then director general of the BBC, Lord Hall to issue a statement defending Mishal saying Meghan's claim was "simply untrue". A source told the Daily Mail: "Mishal is not easily riled, to put it mildly, so this is a notable intervention. She clearly felt strongly about it."

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Mishal talked about the claims once again, telling Saga magazine: "I didn't know what to make of it. They seemed to have thought through what their new lives would be like and what marriage would mean for her life in particular."

It was announced today that Mishal would be leaving the BBC at the end of the year after 27 years with the corporation. Mishal, 51, has been a presenter on the Radio 4 Today programme for the last 11 years and hosts The Today Debate, as well as the recent BBC UK general election debates. She joined the BBC in 1998 and was previously a presenter on BBC World News.

After it was revealed the journalist would be leaving the corporation, next year, she said: "My time at the BBC has involved many memorable moments, going to places I would never otherwise have seen, witnessing history and being part of live, national conversation on Radio 4. "I will always be grateful for the opportunities the BBC gave me, and wish the organisation and everyone who is part of it the very best."

The journalist, who was paid up to £345,000 last year, will remain on air into the new year but after that, she will move to front a new interview series at financial and data media company Bloomberg, as editor-at-large of Bloomberg Weekend Edition.