Review: ‘The Princess’ (2022), starring Diana, Princess of Wales

January 22, 2022

by Carla Hay

Diana, Princess of Wales in “The Princess” (Photo by Kent Gavin/HBO)

“The Princess” (2022)

Directed by Ed Perkins

Culture Representation: Taking place from 1981 to 1997, the documentary “The Princess” features a predominantly white group of people (with a few black people and Asians) representing the working-class, middle-class, wealthy and royalty discussing the life of Diana, the Princess of Wales, who died in a car accident in 1997, at the age of 36.

Culture Clash: Diana was plagued by a troubled marriage to Prince Charles; issues with depression and bulimia; and ongoing battles with the media over her privacy.

Culture Audience: “The Princess” will appeal primarily to people who can’t get enough of watching Princess Diana documentaries, but this all-archival documentary reveals nothing new and has nothing interesting to say.

Diana, Princess of Wales (center) in “The Princess” (Photo courtesy of HBO)

In the never-ending cottage industry of Princess Diana biographies and Princess Diana exploitation, the sloppily made documentary “The Princess” is completely unnecessary and leaves out a lot of information. The Wikipedia page for Princess Diana has more information than this cynical cash grab of a movie. The ending of “The Princess” is extremely off-putting by concluding abruptly with an image of Diana’s burial casket being driven off during the funeral. The movie irresponsibly doesn’t even mention that in Princess Diana’s fatal car accident, the driver of the car was drunk.

Directed by Ed Perkins, “The Princess” had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary consists entirely of archival footage from 1981 to 1997—the years that the woman born as Diana Spencer lived in the public eye. Most of the footage is from British television. There is absolutely nothing new in this documentary that hasn’t already been seen elsewhere, except for some random home videos of people reacting to Diana’s untimely death. (She died in Paris on August 31, 1997.)

Watching this movie is exactly like watching a video version of a Wikipedia page, but less so because the movie gives no information about the investigation into Diana’s death. The filmmakers also seem to have an agenda by leaving out the drunk-driver information and instead showing repetitive footage of people blaming the paparazzi for Diana’s death. The documentary ignores the reality that the investigation into the car accident, the news coverage about it and the facts uncovered were extremely important to Diana’s tragic story.

“The Princess” is just a chronological telling of basic facts of her life that people already know, with some tabloid headlines thrown in the mix. People already know about the courtship and doomed marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. (The former spouses separated in 1992, and officially divorced in 1996.) People already know about the conflicts in the British Royal Family. People already know about the tabloid scandals, Diana’s charity work, and how much she adored her sons William and Harry.

There are amateur YouTube videos about Princess Diana that are more interesting than this lazy documentary. The film has voiceover soundbites, but the people talking in these voiceovers are never identified, and neither are the media sources for these soundbites, or the year that these comments were made. The only people who might think “The Princess” is interesting are people who don’t know much about Princess Diana, or obsessive fans who can’t get enough of anything to do with her, no matter tacky it is.

UPDATE: HBO and HBO Max will premiere “The Princess” on August 13, 2022.

Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: TV specials and special screenings

May 7, 2018

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle will take at Windsor Castle in England on May 19, 2018. Several networks will have a live telecast of the event. Here’s a rundown of what royal watchers in the United States can see in celebration of the wedding.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Photo by Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)

The following is a press release from E!:

As the Royals and A-list stars converge on Windsor, England to celebrate the upcoming fairytale nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, E! builds on its continued coverage of the Royal Family culminating with the event of the year. The network’s coverage begins on Monday, May 7th at 9p ET/PT with “The Real Princess Diaries: From Diana to Meghan” wedding special, breaking down the future of the modern day Princess through the lives of three trailblazing women: Diana, Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan Markle. Then on Saturday, May 19th starting at 5a ET/2a PT, reporting live, direct from Windsor Castle, “E! Live From The Royal Wedding” featuring pop culture expert Giuliana Rancic, celebrity fashion stylist Brad Goreski, royal expert E! News Chief Correspondent Melanie Bromley, and E! UK TV host Sarah-Jane Crawford provides viewers with unparalleled and unpredictable, five-hour, cross-platform coverage from multiple vantage points. Rounding out the night, the network will air “E! Royal Wedding Rundown,” an hour-long recap special of the historic event, at 7:00p ET/PT. The special and day of live coverage will be produced by Wilshire Studios.

“The Real Princess Diaries: From Diana to Meghan” special features a roster of royal, pop culture, and style experts including Karamo Brown (Queer Eye), Michelle Lee (Editor-In-Chief, Allure Magazine), Melanie Bromley, Zanna Roberts Rassi (Senior Fashion Editor, Marie Claire Magazine), Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan (The Fug Girls, “gofugyourself”), and more. The special will look at how these modern day royals are redefining what that means through their lifestyles, fashion, philanthropy, and socially. Viewers will also get a chance to look back at how Diana set the standard for future generations, how Kate has carried that torch, and how Meghan will further redefine what the world thinks of the British royal family. These royal insiders will revisit the lavish weddings of Diana and Kate, and make predictions of what’s to come for Meghan’s big day.

E! News will also have dedicated Royal Wedding coverage the entire week leading up to the ceremony as E!’s resident royal expert Melanie Bromley does comprehensive reporting live in London and Windsor, England with up-to-the-minute updates on Prince Harry and Meghan, along with final preparations for the high-profile nuptials, kicking off Monday, May 14th at 12p ET/PT on “Daily Pop” and 7p ET/PT on “E! News.” Plus, E! News’ coverage will dive deep into these refreshingly modern pop-cultural darlings and their captivating, storybook-like romance, and bring fans all of the details from the star-studded celebrations.

E! News’ fan-favorite Instagram Stories will also feature a special edition of Royal Wedding coverage on Saturday, May 19th, delivering E!’s fresh, comedic and fast-paced take on the biggest moments from the wedding festivities. Fans can follow every moment as the day unfolds and get exclusive behind-the-scenes content on E! News digital and @enews across social platforms (InstagramTwitter, and Facebook) as well as @e_news on Snapchat.

Complete Schedule:

Monday, May 7th at 9p ET/PT

E!’s royal wedding special “The Real Princess Diaries: From Diana to Meghan” will discuss the evolution of royal life and the future of the modern day Princess through the lives of three trailblazing women: Diana, Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan Markle.

Monday, May 14th at 12p ET/PT & 7p ET/PT

Leading up to the ceremony, “Daily Pop” and “E! News” will deliver dedicated Royal Wedding coverage the entire week as E!’s resident royal expert Melanie Bromley does comprehensive reporting live in London and Windsor, England with up-to-the-minute updates on Prince Harry and Meghan, along with final preparations for the high-profile nuptials. Plus, E! News’ coverage will bring fans all of the details from the star-studded celebrations.

Saturday, May 19th at 5:00a ET/2:00a PT

“E! Live From the Royal Wedding” — the network’s unparalleled and unpredictable five-hour wedding coverage — hosted by pop culture expert Giuliana Rancic, celebrity fashion stylist Brad Goreski, royal expert E! News Chief Correspondent Melanie Bromley, and E! UK TV host Sarah-Jane Crawford.

Saturday, May 19th at 7:00p ET/PT

“E! Royal Wedding Rundown,” the hour-long recap special will air immediately following E!’s live coverage of the historic event.

Digital & Social

E! News’ fan-favorite Instagram Stories will feature a special edition of Royal Wedding coverage on Saturday, May 19th, delivering E!’s fresh, comedic and fast-paced take on the biggest moments from the wedding festivities. Fans can get exclusive behind-the-scenes content on E! News digital and @enews across social platforms (Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) as well as @e_news on Snapchat.

Fox logo

(Image courtesy of Fox)

The following is a press release from Fox:

“MEGHAN MARKLE: AN AMERICAN PRINCESS” 

FRIDAY, MAY 11, ON FOX

Featuring Interviews with Markle’s Half-Sister, Samantha Markle; Broadcast Journalist Piers Morgan; Princess Diana’s Former Butler, Paul Burrell; and More

The following is a press release from Fox:

The all-new special MEGHAN MARKLE: AN AMERICAN PRINCESS will air Friday, May 11 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The two-hour event will focus on Markle’s life and potential legacy as the first American to marry into the British royal family since 1937.

Airing just days before Markle’s marriage on May 19 to His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, also known as Prince Harry, MEGHAN MARKLE: AN AMERICAN PRINCESS will offer viewers an inside look into the lives of this global power couple straight from experts, socialites and friends intimately connected with the House of Windsor.

The special will examine Markle’s life before Harry, and how both her career as an actress and passion for activism couldhelp shape her role as a member of the royal family. Broadcast journalist Piers Morgan will provide exclusive commentary on the many ways this spirited young American will have to adapt to life in the traditional royal household. Markle’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, will offer insight into her sibling’s upbringing and describe the racial prejudice their family often faced. Also featured in the special will be Royal Correspondent and Harry’s biographer, Katie Nicholl; and Paul Burrell, Princess Diana’s former butler, who will look back at Prince Harry’s childhood. Additionally, the special will feature conversations with other figures from Markle’s past, including schoolmates, co-stars and more.

“Since the early days of the British monarchy, right up to the present, the royal family has captivated the minds and imaginations of people across the globe,” said Rob Wade, President, Alternative Entertainment and Specials, Fox Broadcasting Company. “With Meghan Markle on the cusp of becoming a real princess, joining the likes of Princess Kate and the late Princess Diana, this special will give viewers a unique look and insight into her journey, from her upbringing in Southern California to her wedding to Prince Harry in Windsor Castle.”

 “MEGHAN MARKLE: AN AMERICAN PRINCESS will provide viewers with the definitive inside story of the most talked-about wedding of the year, packed with exclusive insights into how Meghan and the world’s most famous family will change each other’s lives,” said Daniela Neumann, Managing Director of Spun Gold TV.

“The whole world is fascinated by the Meghan Markle fairytale of marrying into the British royal family,” said Natalka Znak, Founder and President of Znak & Co. “With the access and specialist knowledge of our British partners, Spun Gold, the special promises to reveal details of Meghan’s new royal life that will amaze American audiences.”

 MEGHAN MARKLE: AN AMERICAN PRINCESS is produced by Spun Gold TV and Znak & Co. Bridget Boseley, Eamon Hardy and Natalka Znak serve as executive producers. Follow the special on Twitter @FOXTV and join the discussion using #AmericanPrincess. Fox Networks Group Content Distribution holds exclusive international distribution rights.

Parisa Fitz-Henley as Meghan Markle and Murray Fraser as Prince Harry in “Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance” (Photo courtesy of Lifetime)

The following is a press release from Lifetime:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A ROYAL WEDDING EVENT AS THE LIFETIME FEATURE  HARRY & MEGHAN: A ROYAL ROMANCE HEADS TO THE ALTAR ON MAY 13

Save the date for the Lifetime Feature, Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance premiering Sunday, May 13 at 8pm ET/PT, leading into the real-life wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle later that week.

Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance follows the fairytale romance of Prince Harry (Murray Fraser, The Loch) and Meghan Markle (Parisa Fitz-Henley, Midnight Texas) from the moment they met after being set up by friends, through their initial courtship when they were able to keep their romance under wraps, and ultimately the intense global media attention surrounding their relationship and Meghan’s life as a divorced American actress.

Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance also stars Steve Coulter as Prince Charles, Bonnie Soper as Diana, Burgess Abernethy as Prince William, Laura Mitchell as Kate Middleton, Maggie Sullivun as Queen Elizabeth II, Deborah Ramsay as Camilla Bowles, Preston Jakub Karwat as Prince George and Briella Wintraub as Princess Charlotte. Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance is produced by Crown Productions and Lighthouse Pictures for Lifetime with Merideth Finn and Michele Weiss executive producing. Menhaj Huda directs from a script written by Scarlett Lacey and Terrence Coli.

A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights to Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (Photo by REX/Shutterstock)

The following is a press release from TLC:

TLC CELEBRATES THE ROYAL WEDDING OF MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY WITH TWO DAYS OF SPECIAL PROGRAMMING BEGINNING MAY 18

Royal Wedding Programming Includes Three, One-Hour Documentaries Covering

All Things Meghan and Harry, a Live Feed of the Ceremony, and a Spirited Panel Discussion Led by TLC Wedding and Style Experts

 TLC is giving fans a front row seat to the royal event everyone has been waiting for: the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! Beginning Friday, May 18, the day before the momentous occasion, the network will air back-to-back, must-see wedding programming, including three documentaries that delve into everything leading up to their big day – from each of their early lives to the wedding rules of royalty.

The celebration continues Saturday, May 19 at 5:00 a.m. EST/2:00 a.m. PST, with TLC’S ROYAL WEDDING LIVE, a live four-hour feed of the royal wedding, followed by the premiere of TLC’S ROYAL WEDDING REVEALED later that night at 10/9c. The one-hour special, hosted by Shaun Robinson, will feature TLC wedding and style experts Randy Fenoli, Lori Allen, Monte Durham, George Kotsiopoulos and Hayley Paige as they capture all the details surrounding the ceremony, from the guests to the wedding party, Meghan’s dress, the castle, and any last-minute bloopers. TLC’s wedding panelists will also discuss the life that Meghan is about to enter as she begins a new royal chapter with Prince Harry.

Twitter commentary from TLC wedding and style experts Randy Fenoli, Lori Allen, Monte Durham, George Kotsiopoulos and Hayley Paige will be shown on-air during the wedding’s live feed. Join the conversation using #TLCRoyalWedding.

Friday night’s three, one-hour documentaries are produced by the international division of British company ITN Productions.  See below for more information:

 PRINCE HARRY: WILD NO MORE 

On Friday, May 18th at 8/7c, it’s the news the world has been waiting for: Prince Harry is tying the knot and his chosen bride is no royal wallflower. She’s independent, outspoken…and American! This one-hour documentary will chart the royal highs, and some embarrassing lows

in the life of the mischievous little boy who grew up to become a very modern prince charming. How, with Meghan Markle by his side, is Harry set to change the face of the royal family?

 MEGHAN MARKLE: A ROYAL LOVE STORY (WT)

On Friday, May 18th at 9/8c, TLC will premiere an hour-long special dedicated exclusively to Meghan Markle, including interviews with her friends, stylists and royal experts about the British Monarchy’s newest member. The special delves into Meghan’s childhood, growing up the only daughter of a mixed-race couple in LA, and her career from trainee diplomat to briefcase girl on Deal or No Deal, to multimillionaire Hollywood actress. MEGHAN MARKLE: A ROYAL LOVE STORY (WT) will also explore the rigorous training she must undergo to transform from actress to princess, the sacrifices she will make to enter this life of duty, and the modern makeover she has single-handedly given to this most famous of royal families.

SECRETS OF THE ROYAL WEDDING

On Friday, May 18th, at 10/9c, TLC will take a look at the whirlwind royal romance that led up to the highly anticipated wedding. Meghan’s walk down the aisle inside a fairytale castle will attract the biggest TV audience of her life. But how will Meghan and Harry make sure their big day feels like their own? The special will go behind-the-scenes to uncover the secrets of the royal wedding and reveal how Meghan and Harry will combine pomp and pageantry with plenty of personal style–and even a little royal rebellion to celebrate their very modern love story.

The following is a press release from NBC:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Wedding Venue, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, U.K. (Photo by  REX/Shutterstock)

ALL FOUR HOURS OF NBC NEWS’ ‘TODAY’ HEAD TO WINDSOR FOR ROYAL WEDDING COVERAGE

Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Megyn Kelly and Kathie Lee Gifford will Anchor Their Respective Hours Live from Windsor on Friday, May 18

On Wedding Day: Guthrie and Kotb Co-Anchor ‘TODAY at the Royal Wedding,’  Joined by Kelly, Gifford, Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones Beginning at 4:30 AM ET

In Primetime Ahead of Wedding: Guthrie and Kotb Take Viewers Behind the Scenes in ‘Inside the Royal Wedding: Harry and Meghan’ on Wednesday, May 16

All four hours of NBC News’ TODAY are heading to Windsor to bring the excitement of the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to viewers back home. Ahead of the nuptials, Savannah GuthrieHoda KotbMegyn Kelly and Kathie Lee Gifford will broadcast their respective hours live from an exclusive location overlooking Windsor Castle on Friday, May 18 (7-11 a.m. ET). Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones will also join TODAY from the United Kingdom.

On Saturday, May 19 (4:30-11 a.m. ET), Guthrie and Kotb will co-anchor “TODAY at the Royal Wedding” from an exclusive vantage point overlooking Windsor Castle where Prince Harry and Markle will emerge as husband and wife. They will be joined by Kelly, Gifford, Roker and Jones from various prime locations. Additionally, there will be a team of NBC News correspondents, including Kelly Cobiella, Rehema EllisStephanie Gosk and Keir Simmons, capturing every facet of the royal wedding and its festivities in and around Windsor and London. The broadcast will also include insight and analysis from royal experts and contributors: Wilfred Frost, co-anchor of CNBC’s “Closing Bell”; Zanna Roberts Rassi, British fashion expert and senior fashion editor of Marie Claire; Andrew Roberts, British historian; Camilla Tominey, royal editor of Sunday Express; and Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana’s former bodyguard.

NBC News’ Savannah Sellers, co-host of “Stay Tuned” on Snapchat, will cover the royal wedding and anchor the show from London. In addition, TODAY.com will feature original stories and video on the news, style and food aspects of the momentous celebration during the lead-up to the wedding day. NBC News will also cover the event on all digital platforms with original content, video and interactive graphics on a special content hub on NBCNews.com.

As a prelude to the most-talked about wedding of the year, Guthrie and Kotb will host an NBC primetime special, “Inside the Royal Wedding: Harry and Meghan,” on Wednesday, May 16 at 10 p.m. ET, giving viewers an exclusive and unprecedented glimpse into the fairy-tale romance that has captured the imagination and hearts of everyone around the world. The one-hour broadcast will feature interviews with close friends of the couple, along with prominent figures from the worlds of fashion, sports and show business. Kotb will also report live from Windsor, beginning Thursday, May 17, giving viewers an early peak of the final details and events in the run-up to the royal marriage.NBC will lift the curtain on the most talked-about nuptials of the year with “Inside the Royal Wedding: Harry and Meghan,” set for Wednesday, May 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Close friends of the couple, who will be guests at the Windsor Castle ceremony and intimate reception, will tell the story of how Harry and Meghan fell in love, their unique courtship and the journey they’ve shared leading to the most modern royal wedding of all time. The special will also feature exclusive interviews with prominent figures from the worlds of fashion, sports and show business.

“Inside the Royal Wedding: Harry and Meghan” will go behind the scenes to reveal the secrets of what it takes to stage an event on this scale with interviews from those involved in the May ceremony and previous weddings.

These experts will reveal what will happen in the biggest royal wedding since Kate Middleton and Prince William, and a ceremony rich in history and tradition, including rarely seen archival wedding footage. From Meghan’s wedding dress and closely guarded cake and flowers, to the spectacular secrets of the venue itself, St. George’s Chapel, the special will give unique insight into this hugely anticipated event, and what kind of a wedding, and marriage, this will be.

Filmed in Europe, Africa and the U.S., the special will also feature the people who have inspired the pair on their global charity-focused journey, from the motivational stories of Harry’s fellow soldiers injured overseas, to the role models and mentors who have influenced Meghan’s passions and interests.

“Inside the Royal Wedding: Harry and Meghan” is produced by ITN Productions with Ian Rumsey serving as executive producer, Rachel Kinnock as producer, and Nathaniel Lippiett as producer and director.

The following is a press release from Fathom Events:

For the First Time Ever, the Royal Wedding Comes to U.S. Movie Theaters for a Commercial-Free Fan Experience on May 19 Only
Fathom Events, BritBox and ITV Bring ‘Harry & Meghan: The Royal Wedding’ – the Only Full, Uninterrupted Broadcast of the Ceremony – to Cinemas Nationwide

The biggest wedding of the year is about to get the big screen treatment, giving royal fans in the U.S. a front row seat to this monumental event. Fathom Events and BritBox, the subscription service from BBC Studios and ITV, bring moviegoers nationwide Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s highly-anticipated nuptials, captured live from Windsor Castle in England and presented commercial-free on May 19.

Tickets for Harry & Meghan: The Royal Weddingcan be purchased at www.FathomEvents.com or participating box offices.
Fathom Events and BritBox will present “Harry & Meghan: The Royal Wedding” in nearly 200 U.S. cinemas on Saturday, May 19 at 10 a.m. local time, through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network (DBN). A complete list of participating theater locations is available on the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).“There’s something special about witnessing history unfold,” said Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt. “We’re thrilled to partner with BritBox to give moviegoers across the country an opportunity to watch one of the most exciting events of the year in a grand, cinematic setting.”

“We are honored to present ‘Harry & Meghan: The Royal Wedding’ to a U.S. audience in such a big way,” said BritBox President Soumya Sriraman. “A Royal wedding has never before been screened in movie theaters, but we believe that an event as monumental as this one is fit for the big screen.”

 

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