To mark the 20th anniversary of Diana, Princess of Wales’ death, BBC will air a new documentary called Diana, 7 Days. The 90 minute production details the events following Princess Diana’s death, and includes personal accounts from Prince William and Prince Harry about how the incident has effected their lives.
Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in 1997 after being chased by aggressive paparazzi. Adored by the public, the 36-year-old’s death shocked people around the world and became one of the most documented events of its time. The royal family came under heavy criticism in the wake of Diana’s death over both their treatment of the Princess and their reaction to the news. Many members of the public viewed the royal’s treatment of Diana as uncaring and rude, and found their response to the incident too private for an event of such national significance.
Diana, 7 Days addresses these issues and more. In an exclusive interview, William, who was just 15 at the time, reveals how it felt to be told his mother was dead. “I remember feeling completely numb, disoriented, dizzy,” he says. “There was no sudden outpour of grief. I don’t think anybody in that position at that age would be able to understand the concept of what that actually means, going forward,” he continues.
His brother Harry publicly discusses for the first time the way their father, Prince Charles, handled Diana’s death. “He was there for us,” he says. “He tried to do his best and to make sure that we were protected and looked after. But he was going through the same grieving process as well.”
The young royal goes on to describe the role the paparazzi had in adding to his devastation. “One of the hardest things to come to terms with is the fact that the people that chased her through into the tunnel were the same people that were taking photographs of her, while she was still dying on the back seat of the car,” he says.
Diana, 7 Days will screen on BBC1 on Sunday, 27 August.
