LONDON (AP) Tony Hall, who was director of BBC news and current affairs at the time of the public broadcasters explosive 1995 interview with Princess Diana, resigned Saturday as board chairman of Britains National Gallery.

Hall, who subsequently rose to the top job at the BBC, was heavily criticized in a report this week for a botched inquiry into how journalist Martin Bashir obtained the blockbuster interview.

In a statement, Hall said his continued presence at the gallery would be a distraction to an institution I care deeply about.

As I said two days ago, I am very sorry for the events of 25 years ago and I believe leadership means taking responsibility, Hall said.

The 126-page report by retired Judge John Dyson, published Thursday, found the internal BBC investigation had covered up deceitful behavior by Bashir, who was little-known as a journalist when he interviewed Diana.

The BBC also has faced questions about why Bashir was rehired in 2016 as the broadcasters religious affairs correspondent.

Dianas sons, Princes William and Harry, have excoriated the BBC since the reports publication, saying there was a direct link between the 1995 interview and their mothers death in a traffic accident two years later as she and a companion were being pursued by paparazzi.