Documentaries to Watch About Princess Diana 25 Years After Her Death
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Despite how private the British royal family keeps their personal lives, they've remained the subject of tabloid scrutiny and public interest for centuries. Queen Elizabeth II, the late Prince Philip, and more family members are certainly fascinating, but it's Princess Diana who truly captured the hearts of people all over the world during — and after — her marriage to Prince Charles. Interest never waned following her tragic death in a 1997 car accident — the 25th anniversary is Aug. 31 — and the royal's life has remained in the spotlight. The beloved humanitarian has subsequently been the subject of many scripted films and shows, as well as documentaries.
And yet another Princess Diana documentary was released this month from HBO, titled "The Princess." "The Princess" — from Oscar-nominated director Ed Perkins — opts against using talking head interviews to tell Princess Diana's story, rather relying on old news footage and archival video. Perkins previously said that he feels the result is "more immersive and unmediated," and that the film — which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival before streaming — and revisits "the national dialogue and debate around Diana at the time — something I think we have all too easily forgotten."
While honoring Diana's legacy for the 25th anniversary of her death, here are films about the people's princess that you can tune into now.
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"The Story of Diana"
ABC and People joined forces to release "The Story of Diana," a two-part, four hour-long event to mark the 20th anniversary of her tragic death. Comprehensive interviews about her life with leading Diana experts and those who knew her best makes for a well-rounded look at the Princess of Wales.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
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"Diana: The Last Days of a Princess"
This 2007 documentary from TLC used a mix of interviews and dramatic reenactments to tell the story of the princess of Wales's last two months before her death. Actual news footage and interviews with Mohamed Al-Fayed (Dodi Al-Fayed's father) and editors from The Sunday Mirror are mixed in with scenes based on testimony from the 800-page Paget Report (official documents pertaining to Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed's death), which was published in 2006 after a four-year-long investigation.
Where to watch: DVD
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"Diana: In Her Own Words"
Filmmaker Tom Jennings gathered intimate recordings of Princess Diana for this in-depth documentary for National Geographic.
Where to watch: Disney+
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"Unlawful Killing"
Keith Allen's 2011 British documentary film about Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed's death, "Unlawful Killing," faced mounting criticism after premiering at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. The movie claims the British and French authorities covered up important details about their car crash, and asserts Prince Philip orchestrated their murder (it also calls Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret "gangsters in tiaras").
The film — which was financed by Mohamed Al-Fayed (Dodi's father) — is full of other scandalous allegations about the royal family that led to it being banned from a theater release in the UK. Allen tried to distribute it in the US instead, but it was also withdrawn due to threats of possible litigation.
Where to watch: YouTube
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"Diana: The People's Princess"
"Diana: The People's Princess" came out in 2016 and gives audiences a well-rounded look at her life. It dives deep into her dedication to philanthropy, as well as her relationship with sons Prince William and Prince Harry. Of all the documentaries on this list, it provides the best reason her memory continues to live on so strongly.
Where to watch: Amazon
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"Diana: Portrait of a Princess"
Michael Brennan's mid-'90s documentary examines the life of Princess Diana with nine months' worth of exclusive footage of her after she backed away from the public eye (following the publication of her and Charles's extramarital affairs), and includes testimony from some of her closest friends.
Where to watch: DVD
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"Princess Diana: The Uncrowned Queen"
"Princess Diana: The Uncrowned Queen" follows Princess Diana from her rise to fame at just 20 years old to her death 16 years later, including glimpses into her marital strife with Prince Charles and her struggle to elude the paparazzi. Interviews with Prince William and Prince Harry are included, as is footage of conversations with some of her friends.
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"The Princess"
Directed by Ed Perkins, "The Princess," which initially premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, relies on old interviews and archival news footage to recount pivotal moments in Diana's public life, including her dramatic divorce from Prince Charles and 1997 car accident in Paris. The film was released just ahead of the 25th anniversary of that fatal crash on Aug. 31.
Where to watch: HBO Max