Deborah Ross

The definitive Diana doc? Possibly not: The Princess reviewed

The historical re-framing is neither original nor insightful

The first re-framing of the Princess Diana story since it was last re-framed, about ten minutes ago 
issue 02 July 2022

The Princess, a new documentary film, is the first re-framing of the Princess Diana story since it was last re-framed, about ten minutes ago, and before it will be re-framed again, probably by Tuesday. We’ve had The Crown recently, and Spencer, and our favourite, Diana: The Musical (‘It’s the Thrilla in Manila but with Diana and Camilla’), and there are several upcoming books, one of which, R is for Revenge Dress, ‘explores the celebrated life of Princess Diana through the alphabet’. To those who say the poor woman should be left to rest in peace, I would say: F is for Fat Chance. But is this the definitive documentary we’ve all been waiting for? Possibly not.

We can see the way she momentarily and worriedly bites her lip. ‘Don’t do it!’, you want to shout

It has superb credentials. It is directed by Ed Perkins, who was Oscar nominated for Black Sheep, and produced by Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugarman).

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