A new trailer for the upcoming series of The Crown has dramatised the infamous Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales.
The fifth series of the royal drama, which is set to launch on November 9, will take inspiration from the pressure put upon the monarchy as Charles and Diana’s marriage was collapsing and in the lead-up to the interview.
The newly released teaser clip shows Diana, portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki, and Charles, played by Dominic West, consulting the Queen and later her reminding her son of his duty “as future king”.
In a black blazer and white t-shirt, Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, tells journalist Martin Bashir, played by Prasanna Puwanarajah, "I won't go quietly. I'll battle 'til the end."
The actual interview with Diana sparked controversary at the time due to the revelations the late mum-of-two made when speaking with Martin.
Diana's tell-all interview was watched by an estimated 200 million people and became one of the most-talked about moments of the 20th century, but in 2021, a BBC investigation, launched by Diana's brother Earl Charles Spencer, found that Martin commissioned fake bank statements in order to mislead Diana into telling her story.
Prince William and Prince Harry issued a joint statement denouncing the Panorama interview in May 2021, saying, "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 parents' relationship worse and has since hurt countless others."
Prince William is said to have has made his feelings "very clear" about hit Netflix show The Crown featuring the death of his mother Diana and her interview with Martin, according to reports.
A source told The Telegraph earlier this month that the future king feels The Crown are using the Bashir interview and the “dramatisation of it for financial gain”.
The newly released teaser clip shows Diana, portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki, and Charles, played by Dominic West, consulting the Queen and later her reminding her son of his duty “as future king”.
As scenes show the increased media attention surrounding the relationship, a voiceover says: “The house of Windsor should be binding the nation together, setting an example of idealised family life.
“It’s a situation which can’t help but affect the stability of the country.”
The spotlight focuses on Diana and the character can be heard saying: “People will never understand how it’s been for me. I never stood a chance.”
Earlier this week, Netflix was forced to defend The Crown amid a barrage of criticism directed at the show following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major will be shown in a storyline which sees King Charles plotting to persuade his mother to abdicate from the throne back in 1991.
During the first episode which airs on November 9, Charles summons Major to a meeting and schemes to oust the Queen.
For the upcoming series of the hit drama, which features recast roles, Dominic West stars as the King, while Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana and Imelda Staunton the Queen.
A spokeswoman for The Crown said: “The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events.
“Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family – one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians."
Dame Judi Dench has called for a disclaimer to be added to each episode of The Crown, saying the hit Netflix drama has begun to verge on “crude sensationalism”.
She added that “wounding suggestions apparently contained in the new series” will prove “damaging” to the monarchy and cannot go unchallenged.
Dame Judi made the remarks in a letter to The Times, following previous concerns voiced by former prime minister Sir John Major, about the content of The Crown’s highly anticipated fifth series, which will launch on November 9.
