Prince William declines Princess Diana films as Prince Harry considers one
Prince William is reportedly unwilling to participate in new Princess Diana documentaries, stepping back from the public catharsis of the 20th anniversary in 2017. While Prince William draws a firm line on media projects about his mother, Prince Harry is reportedly considering a new television film about her memory, managing long-strained brotherly relations.
The Shift Away from On-Screen Commemoration
As the entertainment industry and royal watchers track shifting media strategies, Prince William has made it clear that he will not repeat the pattern of the 20th anniversary of Diana, Princess of Wales’s death, according to reporting by the Times. In 2017, the royal brothers collaborated on the ITV documentary titled Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, offering personal memories of their mother. At a screening of that film at Kensington Palace, Prince William stated, “We won’t speak as openly about her again.” That project marked a rare, deeply personal venture into television production and biographical syndication, a format the heir to the throne now declines to revisit.
Prince Harry Pursues a Separate Film Project
While Prince William steps away from biographical features, Prince Harry is reportedly exploring a separate television film dedicated to honoring his mother’s memory. Daily Mail reporter Richard Kay shared details on the publication’s Palace Confidential web series, stating, “I am told that one of the reasons Harry’s here is to make a television film, his own film, about his mother.” Kay added context regarding Harry’s recent travels, noting, “Let’s not forget who Harry spent time with when he was here in July, it was Diana’s family at Althorp.” This upcoming venture is a project Prince Harry would undertake independently, without the involvement of his older brother, amid relations that have remained strained for many years.
A Widening Gap Between the Princes
The Sussexes’ departure from the royal family, followed by subsequent public accusations, left the heir to the throne deeply upset. The brothers appeared together in 2021 to unveil a statue of Diana near Kensington Palace, their childhood home. Their subsequent interactions have been marked by distance; they were last photographed in the same room during their father’s coronation in May 2023, where they reportedly did not speak, and Harry departed for California immediately after the ceremony. They crossed paths again in August 2024 at the private funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, where sources reported they behaved like complete strangers.
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