Prince William Draws The Line Over Princess Diana Film Ahead Of Major Anniversary

Sep 30, 2026 by apost team

Prince William has reportedly decided not to take part in a new documentary about his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches on Aug. 31, 2027.

Diana died in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997, at the age of 36. Her death triggered an extraordinary international outpouring of grief, and public interest in her life and legacy has continued for decades.

According to The Times, William declined several offers to make or appear in documentary tributes marking the anniversary. Friends of the Prince of Wales told the newspaper that the date remains a “difficult situation” for him and that he was still “really emotional” about his mother’s death.

The newspaper also reported that William wants to avoid being “pitted against” Prince Harry through competing television projects. Harry is reportedly in discussions about a documentary commemorating Diana, potentially involving Netflix, although no finished film or release plan has been formally announced.

William’s decision reflects a position he set out publicly in 2017. Ahead of the ITV documentary “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy,” he and Harry spoke unusually openly about their memories of Diana and the effect of losing her at a young age.

At the time, William described the program as a tribute from Diana’s sons. He also made clear that the brothers did not intend to repeat such an intimate public discussion, saying: “We won’t be doing this again.”

The brothers’ different approaches carry added weight because their relationship has been strained for years. They have appeared at some of the same events while largely pursuing separate public lives, making any parallel projects about Diana likely to draw comparisons.

The 2017 documentary was designed to show Diana through the memories of the people closest to her, rather than through another retelling of the controversies that surrounded her life.

William explained that he and Harry wanted to remind viewers of “the warmth, the humour and what she was like as a mother”. He also said they would not “speak as openly or publicly about her again”, presenting the film as a rare personal account rather than the beginning of a series of royal retrospectives.

William has nevertheless continued to speak about Diana’s place within his own family. In another ITV interview connected with the documentary, he said he talks to his children about “Granny Diana” and keeps photographs of her in their home.

“I talk about her,” he said, adding that he wanted his children to understand “that there are two grandmothers in their lives and so it’s important that they know who she was and that she existed.”

The 2027 anniversary is also arriving amid renewed debate over Diana’s life and her relationship with the royal family. Her brother, Charles Spencer, revisited those years in his memoir “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” prompting Buckingham Palace to dispute parts of his recollection. Spencer has defended his account.

Kensington Palace has also shared Mother’s Day cards made by Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for their late grandmother, offering a glimpse of how Diana is remembered within William’s family.

Against that backdrop, William’s reported choice not to participate in another documentary is consistent with the boundary he drew in 2017. Instead of revisiting Diana’s life through another television project, he appears set to keep her memory alive within his family while limiting further public reflection on his grief.

apost.com

Prince William has made clear that some memories are too personal to revisit repeatedly in public. Do you think Prince William is right to keep his memories of his mother largely private? Let us know, and then pass this on to someone who continues to remember Diana and her remarkable legacy!