Photos show how Princess Diana's funeral was portrayed on 'The Crown' compared to real life

Eve CrosbieJan 14, 2024, 16:33 IST

"The Crown" season six dramatizes Princess Diana's death and subsequent royal ceremonial funeral.Netflix, Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Part One of "The Crown" season six ends with the funeral of Princess Diana.
She died in 1997 in a car crash. Her unexpected death brought the world to a standstill.

The tragic and sudden death of Princess Diana and the public's response to it changed everything for the royal family.

So it's no surprise that "The Crown" season six spends its first three episodes depicting the events that led up to the car crash that claimed her life at the age of 36 in 1997.

The fourth episode focuses on the aftermath, including how the unprecedented outpouring of public grief persuaded the Queen to go against protocol in more ways than one.

Unsurprisingly, the televised memorial that took place a week after her passing on September 6, 1997, was watched by 2.5 billion people worldwide, according to History.com.

Here's how "The Crown" depicts Diana's funeral and the surrounding events — and what they looked like in real life.

In "The Crown," Queen Elizabeth II is shown bowing to public pressure after initially expressing reluctance to treat Diana's death as a royal death.

The Queen returned to Buckingham Palace from Balmoral in "The Crown."Netflix

As "The Crown" shows, the Queen addressed the nation in a television broadcast where she expressed grief over Diana's death.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Buckingham Palace on September 5 to attend the funeral.Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images

As "The Crown" shows, the Queen addressed the nation in a television broadcast where she expressed grief over Diana's death.

The moment is recreated in "The Crown."Netflix

Here's the real speech the monarch made from a room in Buckingham Palace overlooking the crowd of mourners.

"The Crown" shows how Diana's coffin was carried through the streets of London on the day of her funeral.

On the show, Harry's letter to his mother is shown atop the coffin.Netflix

This is accurate. The funeral procession lasted just under two hours and concluded at Westminster Abbey.

The coffin really did bear the handwritten note from Harry.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

William and Harry are shown walking behind the coffin alongside their father, then Prince Charles, their uncle, Charles Spencer, and grandfather, Prince Philip.

The historical moment as shown in "The Crown." Netflix

This really did happen and the decision to make the Princes, then only 15 and 12 years old, do so was a topic of contention.

Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry, and Prince Charles all walked behind Diana's coffin.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Elsewhere in the episode, Mohammed Al-Fayed is shown unveiling a special tribute to Diana and his son, Dodi Fayed, in the windows of Harrods.

Diana and Dodi's memorial at Harrods is depicted on "The Crown."Netflix

Portraits of the two were placed in the window, but not until almost a month later.

Portraits of Diana and Dodi were placed in Harrods' store windows in London after their deaths.Francois Lochonrancois/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

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Photos show how Princess Diana's funeral was portrayed on 'The Crown' compared to real life

In "The Crown," Queen Elizabeth II is shown bowing to public pressure after initially expressing reluctance to treat Diana's death as a royal death.

As "The Crown" shows, the Queen addressed the nation in a television broadcast where she expressed grief over Diana's death.

As "The Crown" shows, the Queen addressed the nation in a television broadcast where she expressed grief over Diana's death.

Here's the real speech the monarch made from a room in Buckingham Palace overlooking the crowd of mourners.

"The Crown" shows how Diana's coffin was carried through the streets of London on the day of her funeral.

This is accurate. The funeral procession lasted just under two hours and concluded at Westminster Abbey.

William and Harry are shown walking behind the coffin alongside their father, then Prince Charles, their uncle, Charles Spencer, and grandfather, Prince Philip.

This really did happen and the decision to make the Princes, then only 15 and 12 years old, do so was a topic of contention.

Elsewhere in the episode, Mohammed Al-Fayed is shown unveiling a special tribute to Diana and his son, Dodi Fayed, in the windows of Harrods.

Portraits of the two were placed in the window, but not until almost a month later.