44:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 46:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 47:I[29721,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"ShareButton"] 48:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 49:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jo3du-icy6v2.js","/_next/static/chunks/15cy49d~_zsjj.js","/_next/static/chunks/0..ktetnpeix7.js","/_next/static/chunks/08cz-ztcfuxe..js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"SignupCTA"] 3b:["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-05-23T06:00:00.000Z","children":"May 23, 2026"}] 3c:["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}] 3d:["$","span",null,{"children":"00:50:54"}] 3e:["$","p",null,{"className":"max-w-[60ch] text-[18px] leading-[1.5] text-[color:var(--fg-2)]","children":"Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes"}] 45:T534,

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.

First, the story of the Belgian teenager who exposed a scandal within the country’s Royal Family in 1999.

Our guest, Professor Kate Williams takes us through some other royal scandals from history.

We hear how a group of women set up an underground newspaper in communist Poland and how an E-Coli outbreak caused one of Canada’s worst public health emergencies.

Plus, how Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia through a 2006 referendum.

Our sporting story this week takes us to Eastern Ukraine and the rise of Shakhtar Donetsk.

Contributors: Mario Danneels – teenager who exposed King Albert II of Belgium’s secret child Professor Kate Williams – royal historian Helena Luczywo – former editor of Polish underground newspaper Mazovia Weekly Bruce Davidson – resident who experienced Canada’s E-Coli outbreak Ivan Vujovic – independence campaigner in Montenegro Darijo Srna – former captain of Shakhtar Donetsk

This programme has been updated since the original broadcast after it was identified that an archive interview used in it was wrongly attributed.

(Photo: Queen Paola and King Albert II of Belgium in 1999. Credit: Reuters)