A BBC journalist was today forced to apologise for making "rude" and "immature" comments about Prince Philip, Kate Middleton and Prince William.

       Amol Rajan, who presented the controversial beeb documentary The Princes And The Press, wrote a number of remarks about the royals in The Independent back in 2012.

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       Amol Rajan today apologised for comments he made in The Independent years ago

       Mr Rajan, who used to edit the paper, reportedly called Prince Philip a "racist buffoon" in one column while describing Wills' and Kate's public role "a total fraud" in an open letter to the couple.

       Apologising today, the 38-year-old journalist insisted the comments were "foolish" and "immature".

       And he said he "deeply regrets" his incendiary words.

       "In reference to very reasonable questions about some foolish commentary from a former life, I want to say I deeply regret it," Rajan wrote on Twitter.

       "I wrote things that were rude and immature and I look back on them now with real embarrassment, and ask myself what I was thinking, frankly I would like to say sorry for any offence they caused then or now."

       He added: "I'm completely committed to impartiality and hope our recent programmes can be judged on their merits."

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       The Daily Mail reports in one open letter to William and Kate after they had announced their first pregnancy, Rajan congratulated the couple, but wrote: "Neither of you have a special claim on the glorious city of Cambridge so quit pretending you do."

       He also reportedly urged the couple to "renounce the luxuries of royal patronage and aristocracy" and said of other royals: "Aside from the Queen – whose public image is crafted by an ever-expanding team of propagandists – this clan is unusually full of fools".

       Mr Rajan's apology comes after his BBC documentary the Princes and The Press is understood to have sparked fury at the Palace, with the Queen said to have been "upset" by the show.

       The BBC Two documentary allegedly aired "unfounded" allegations that William and his staff briefed the media against Meghan and Harry.

       And it was this week claimed members of the Royal family were mulling over their next steps, with legal reps reported to have watched the second instalment when it aired on Tuesday.

       The second part of the doc was titled 'Sussexit' - after Harry said the term 'Megxit' was a misogynistic term that was "created by a troll [and] amplified by royal correspondents".

       The BBC had also been set to release a five-part podcast this week, exploring the royals’ relationship with the Press, but it was mysteriously delayed at the eleventh hour.

       The Beeb said: “The podcast is still in production", adding it will now be launched as a boxset all at once instead.

       At the end of Tuesday's show, a statement from The Palace said: “A free, responsible and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy.

       “However too often overblown and unfounded claims from unnamed sources are presented as facts and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credibility.”

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       Amol Rajan said the royal clan was 'full of fools' and called Prince Philip a 'racist buffoon' Credit: Alamy

       BBC documentary 'The Princes and the Press' explores William and Harry’s relationship with news outlets