The teaser and poster for HBO’s new documentary on Princess Diana, The Princess, starring Academy Award-nominated director Ed Perkins (Black Sheep), were unveiled today. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of her terrible death, the film will be shown on the premium cable channel on August 13th. The teaser for Princess provides viewers with a taste of some of the vintage material utilised in the documentary to help tell Diana’s story. Documentary “The Princess” is described as “intensely emotive” and “a visceral submersion into Diana’s life under the relentless and sometimes invasive glare of media attention.”
In the film, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, the Princess of Wales, will be examined in regards to their turbulent relationship. Even after their highly publicised divorce and her tragic death in a vehicle accident in 1997, their relationship continued to be the subject of tabloid speculation for decades. She’s been dubbed “The Princess of the People.” Many people were captivated by the life and times of Princess Diana. Many people regarded her as a breath of fresh air and modernity into the British monarchy, while others thought she ought to retreat into the shadows and play by the rules, which didn’t sit well with her.
For the documentary, it looks to be exploring all sides of this debate, drawing on archive video from all of Diana’s brief life milestones to show how she was seen by England, the rest of the globe, and maybe most fatally the media. Much has been written about the media frenzy and fanaticism that surrounded the search for a candid photo or soundbite of Princess Diana during and after her high-profile marriage to Prince Charles. Diana’s allure hasn’t waned. During the early days of Diana and Charles’ relationship, Netflix’s prestige drama series The Crown starred Emma Corrin as Diana and Josh O’Connor as Charles, who were both played by Josh O’Connor. However, it’s not yet certain how much of their rocky marriage and breakup will be included in the fifth season, which premieres on Netflix on September 14. On August 13th, HBO will screen The Princess, which can be streamed on HBO Max, from 8:00-9:50 p.m. ET/PT.