Prince William is reportedly “deeply frustrated” by rumours that the fifth season of The Crown will depict late mother Diana’s infamous 1995 TV interview.
The upcoming new season, which still star Australian Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, is expected to dedicate an episode to the controversial interview. While speaking to journalist Martin Bashir for BBC’s Panorama, Diana publicly referenced Prince Charles’ affair with his now-wife Camilla Parker Bowles for the first time.
Earlier this year, The Dyson report – an independent inquiry into how the interview was obtained by Bashir – found that the BBC “fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark”.
Prince William has publicly condemned the interview, denouncing the “woeful incompetence” it displayed.
“It is my view that the deceitful way the interview was obtained substantially influenced what my mother said. The interview was a major contribution to making my parent’s relationship worse and has since hurt countless others. It brings indescribable sadness to know that the BBC’s failures contributed significantly to her fear, paranoia and isolation that I remember from those final years with her,” he said in a statement at the time.
“It is my firm view that this Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again. It effectively established a false narrative, which for over a quarter of a century has been commercialised by the BBC and others. This settled narrative now needs to be addressed by the BBC and anyone else who has written or intends to write about these events.”
Now, sources have told The Sun that The Crown plans to delve deep into Diana’s decision to undertake the interview.
“To the writers, the stormy marriage between Charles and Diana led up to her outpouring on Panorama, and the aftermath of that decision defined her final months,” a source sold the publication.
“They are making a huge investment in that. The Crown has a track record of delving into areas of the royal family’s history they’d rather be left alone.”
Meanwhile, The Telegraph has claimed that Prince William is unimpressed that producers intend to further “commercialise” and perpetuate the “false narrative” of the interview.
However, a spokesperson for the BBC said it has had “no interaction” with the online streaming giant over dramatising the interview, which it holds copyright over.
If The Crown does ultimately go ahead with depicting the interview, Netflix could face legal consequences for not seeking permission from the BBC.
For more on this topic, follow the Film & TV Observer.
Check out Prince William discussing the BBC interview that may be featured on The Crown:
