Netflix to defy Prince William’s plea to never again air Diana’s Panorama interview

The Crown will depict a controversial part of Princess Diana’s life despite declarations by Prince William that it should never again be seen.

The Martin Bashir interview was the subject of a recent review. Picture: Corbis/Getty

The Crown is to dramatise Martin Bashir’s controversial Panorama interview with Princess Diana — despite her son William’s plea for it never to be broadcast again.

Netflix will air an entire episode focusing on the tragic royal’s sit-down with Bashir in 1995.

William, 39, lashed out at the BBC program this year, saying it had triggered a “false narrative” and holds “no legitimacy”, reported The Sun.

Netflix has forked out millions on an episode devoted to Princess Diana’s Panorama interview which will be pivotal to The Crown’s new series, insiders say.

The streaming giant’s decision to dramatise her sit-down with Martin Bashir puts it at odds with Prince William, who called for it never to be shown again.

Elizabeth Debicki will play Diana in the fifth season of The Crown. Picture: Netflix

William, 39, spoke out after a bombshell report found Bashir lied and used underhand tactics to gain his mother’s trust.

But senior sources say Netflix, which has a deal with William’s brother Harry, is going ahead with the special episode.

An insider told The Sun: “The Crown’s creators see the interview as the keystone moment in series five.

“To the writers, the stormy marriage between Charles and Di led up to her outpouring on Panorama, and the aftermath of that decision defined her final months.

“They are making a huge investment in that. The Crown has a track record of delving into areas of the Royal Family’s history they’d rather be left alone.”

Diana famously said “there were three of us in the marriage” — a dig at Charles and Camilla. William watched it in tears at Eton.

Prince William has previously said the Panaroma should never again be aired. (Photo by Alastair Grant – Pool/Getty Images)

Earlier this year, he hit out at Bashir’s methods — exposed by the Lord Dyson report — to dupe his mother.

He said: “This Panorama program holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again.

“It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others.”

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said yesterday: “This would be extremely upsetting and the only protection ­William has is not to watch it.”

Royal commentator Margaret Holder added: “William was ­dismayed at the time. It is also embarrassing for Harry.”

It emerged yesterday the producers are looking for a boy to play William at 13, his age in 1995.

Timothee Sambor, 11, has been portraying the younger Wills with Australian actor Elizabeth Debicki, 31, playing Diana.

Netflix did not comment.

This article was originally published on The Sun and was reproduced here with permission

Originally published as Netflix to defy Prince William’s plea to never again air Diana’s Panorama interview