The charity event at Westminster Abbey will instead be shown on ITV in what a TV source described as a "real coup" for the channel. The Duchess of Cambridge is expected to host the carol concert as the Duke watches on from the audience.

       A TV source told The Sun: “ITV were very surprised but delighted to get the late call offering them this incredible exclusive. It will be a fantastic Christmas carol concert that will be TV gold for viewers at home.

       “It was all arranged to be on BBC One 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.”

       The reported snub comes after the royals issued a furious statement to the BBC for giving credibility to "overblown and unfounded claims" in the documentary on Monday which looked at the relationship between William, Prince Harry and the press.

       Tensions are likely to be further strained as the second episode of The Princes And The Press, presented by avowed republican Amol Rajan, is still to be broadcast.

       The BBC declined to comment.

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