Prince William Ready to ‘Fight Back’ as Harry Eyes Documentary Deal on Mom Princess Diana
For Prince William and Prince Harry, the memory of Princess Diana has always loomed large, a source of immense pride, and in recent years, also tension. Nearly three decades after her death, the strain between the brothers grows worse as reports suggest Harry is exploring a high-profile documentary project about his mother, for her 30th death anniversary; a move that insiders say William would see as crossing the line. Rumors have it that Harry’s and Meghan Markle's Archewell production company is already in talks with TV executives about the documentary project.
But for William, insiders believe such a move would feel like Harry 'claiming her legacy,' leaving him little choice but to respond with a project of his own, as he will not keep quiet, but 'fight back.' A senior television executive told The Daily Beast, “Harry is looking to do a series about Diana in 2027. They want to get the right partners, and we have had a conversation with them. I’m sure other production companies have too.” The executive added, “An inside account of the implosion of Charles and Diana’s marriage and Harry’s story of Diana’s death and its aftermath would be the TV sensation of all time.”
Neither William nor Harry’s offices have commented publicly, but sources close to the Prince of Wales suggest he would be uneasy with his brother positioning himself as Diana’s sole legacy bearer. A friend of William’s has said, “The film the brothers made for the 20th anniversary was meant to be the last word. William made that very clear at the time. But of course, things have changed since then. If Harry is now going to do another massive Netflix show, effectively claiming her legacy, William will have to fight back, whether that’s with an interview or a documentary of his own. The whole situation is just very sad.”
Where William might turn for such a project remains an open question. One outlet is almost certainly off the table: the BBC. The heir to the throne has been outspoken in his belief that the broadcaster harmed his mother through the deceitful tactics used in securing her infamous 1995 Panorama interview. “It would be ridiculous to do it with the BBC,” his friend said.
Behind the scenes, industry figures believe Harry’s proposed Diana series was a factor in Netflix’s recent decision to extend its partnership with him and Markle. A programme that revisits not only Diana’s humanitarian work but also the controversy surrounding her death would be ratings gold. And Harry’s past comments suggest he would not shy away from questioning the official narrative. In Spare, his bestselling memoir, Harry dubbed the official verdict on Diana’s death — that it was caused by her driver Henri Paul being drunk— 'an insult.' He penned, “Fanciful, riddled with factual errors and gaping logical holes, it raised more questions than it answered.” This framing, insiders say, is exactly what worries William. The brothers’ joint project for the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2017 was meant to close the chapter on public commemorations, Sky News reported.