The Crown producers insist Princess Diana’s death has been recreated with ‘sensitivity’ and ‘thoughtfulness’ following backlash
The Crown’s producers have insisted that Princess Diana’s death has been handled with ‘sensitivity’ following backlash about the upcoming scenes.
The Netflix show has courted controversy countless times as it follows the fates of the Royal Family since the 1940s, but risks a fresh row over scenes depicting Diana’s death.
Diana and Dodi Fayed died in the early hours of August 31, 1997, after the S-Class they were travelling in crashed at the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.
Netflix previously insisted the exact moment of the crash will not be shown on screen, but will instead focus on the moments leading up to it and the aftermath.
Following backlash over the recreation, executive producer Suzanne Mackie has insisted the scenes have been handled with ‘thoughtfulness’ and ‘sensitivity’.
‘We’re thoughtful people’: The Crown’s producers have insisted that Princess Diana’s death has been handled with ‘sensitivity’ following backlash (Pictured: Elizabeth Debicki as Diana)
Speaking as part of a panel for the Edinburgh International Conference Centre at Edinburgh TV Festival, she said: ‘The show might be big and noisy, but we’re not. We’re thoughtful people and we’re sensitive people.
‘And so there was a very, very careful, long, long, long conversation about how we do it – and I hope, you know, the audience will judge it in the end, but I think it’s been delicately, thoughtfully recreated.’
Suzanne said Elizabeth Debicki, who will reprise her role as Diana for the upcoming final series, ‘loved Diana’ and wanted to handle the scenes with ‘respect’.
‘[Elizabeth] was so thoughtful, considerate and loved Diana. So there was a huge amount of respect from us all. I hope that’s evident when you see it,’ she added.
Filming on the final series of The Crown wrapped in April and the series is slated for release later this year, though a date hasn’t been confirmed yet.
On the panel, Suzanne was joined by her fellow producer Andy Harries, who spoke about whether the death of the late Queen Elizabeth impacted the show in any way.
‘I think that the passing of Her Majesty undoubtedly impacted on us all and [writer Peter Morgan] in particular,’ he said.
‘It didn’t change fundamentally, but it did change in a sense and when you see it I think you’ll know what I mean.’
Recreation: The Netflix show has courted controversy as it follows the fates of the Royal Family since the 1940s, but risks a fresh row over scenes depicting Diana’s death (pictured filming)
‘There was a huge amount of respect’: Following criticism, producer Suzanne Mackie has insisted the scenes have been handled with ‘thoughtfulness’ (pictured: Elizabeth as Diana)
Suzanne told how writer Peter said the award-winning show is a ‘love-letter to the Queen’.
The Crown debuted in 2016 and has so far aired five successful seasons, with fans eagerly awaiting the sixth and final season, which will follow the royals from the late 1990s through to the early 2000s.
The final season is expected to show the premiership of Sir Tony Blair, the early relationship between Prince William and Kate Middleton – now the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Princess Diana’s death.
Earlier this year, The Crown risked a fresh row when pictures emerged showing a replica of the mangled Mercedes which had carried Diana on set at Elstree Studios.
Images obtained by the Daily Mail showed a recreation of the wreckage with the front wheel of a black Mercedes buckled, the bonnet crushed and the dashboard hanging out of the obliterated front windscreen.
The vehicle was said to be transported in secret under tarpaulin to Paris – one of two cars taken there for filming last year.
In October, Netflix crews in the French capital were seen reconstructing Diana’s final journey. Other scenes shot in December depict investigators examining the wreckage.
Netflix insisted at the time: ‘The exact moment of the crash impact will not be shown.’
But a source told the Mail: ‘I think a lot of people will find it quite sick that they went into such detail to recreate how the car was smashed up.
‘I think it’s going to cause a lot of upset with the Royal Family. If it was any other family I’m not sure they’d do it.’
Tragic: Diana and Dodi Fayed (pictured on August 22, 1997) died in the early hours of August 31, 1997, after the S-Class they were travelling in crashed at the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris
Final series: The upcoming series of The Crown will see Elizabeth portray Princess Diana once again, while Dominic West return to his role as King Charles
Criticism: Netflix faced backlash over series five, which featured Diana (Elizabeth) sitting down for her infamous 1995 Panorama interview with disgraced ex-BBC journalist Martin Bashir
Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, 41, died instantly, while Diana was taken to hospital and later died of her injuries. British bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was the only survivor.
The upcoming series of The Crown will also see Dominic West return to his role as King Charles and Imelda Staunton once again portray the late Queen Elizabeth.
As Lesley Manville returns as Princess Margaret, Meg Bellamy will also take on the role of Kate Middleton while Ed McVey will portray Prince William.
Netflix faced a fierce backlash over series five, which featured Diana (Elizabeth) sitting down for her infamous 1995 Panorama interview with disgraced ex-BBC journalist Martin Bashir.
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