queen speech diana

Sept. 5, 1997: Queen Elizabeth II addresses Princess Diana's death

The queen publicly addresses the death of princess diana for the first time., april 18, 2016, what’s next for russia, what comes next after texas school shooting, what's next for abortion rights in america, the new battle for voting rights, how we can build a clean and renewable future, the fight for kyiv, examining extremism in the military, gun violence: an american epidemic, border crisis: what’s happening at the us-mexico border, remembering george floyd: a year of protest, the source of covid-19: what we know, how did the gamestop stock spike on wall street happen, why are people hesitant to trust a covid-19 vaccine, how climate change and forest management make wildfires harder to contain, disparity in police response: black lives matter protests and capitol riot, 2020 in review: a year unlike any other, examined: how putin keeps power, why don’t the electoral college and popular vote always match up, us crosses 250,000 coronavirus deaths, 2nd impeachment trial: what this could mean for trump, presidential transition of power: examined, how donald trump spent his last days as president, how joe biden's inauguration will be different from previous years, belarus’ ongoing protests: examined, trump challenges the vote and takes legal action, 2020’s dnc and rnc are different than any before, what is happening with the usps, voting in 2020 during covid-19, disinformation in 2020, abc news specials on, impact x nightline: on the brink, impact x nightline: unboxing shein, the lady bird diaries, impact x nightline: it's britney, impact x nightline: natalee holloway -- a killer confesses, impact x nightline: who shot tupac, impact x nightline, power trip: those who seek power and those who chase them, the murders before the marathon, the ivana trump story: the first wife, mormon no more, leave no trace: a hidden history of the boy scouts, keeper of the ashes: the oklahoma girl scout murders, the orphans of covid: america's hidden toll, superstar: patrick swayze, the kardashians -- an abc news special, 24 months that changed the world, have you seen this man.

How Queen Elizabeth Reacted to Princess Diana's Death

After mounting public pressure, Queen Elizabeth addressed the nation as "your queen and as a grandmother."

This enraged Britons, who felt that she needed to respond to the grief of the nation. Headlines asked , "Where Is Our Queen?" "Your People Are Suffering, Speak to Us Ma'am" and "Show Us You Care."

Finally on September 4, 1997, Queen Elizabeth appeared outside Balmoral Castle to view flower tributes, and on September 5, she viewed tributes outside Buckingham Palace. That evening, Queen Elizabeth delivered a televised address , where she said addressed the nation "as your queen and as a grandmother."

She said, "I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her—for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys. This week at Balmoral, we have all been trying to help William and Harry come to terms with the devastating loss that they and the rest of us have suffered."

She attended Princess Diana's funeral with the rest of the royal family, and she bowed her head to the coffin as it passed. As The Washington Post later reported, " It was not a quick bow, nor a shallow one. The woman accustomed to being bowed by the world now lowered her head and humbly honored the princess. More than anything, it was the bow that broke the fever of anger directed at the queen and her family."

Years later, a private letter she wrote at the time was published —revealing Queen Elizabeth's feelings on Princess Diana's death. "It was indeed dreadfully sad, and she is a huge loss to the country," Queen Elizabeth wrote to Lady Henriette Abel Smith , one of her ladies in waiting. "But the public reaction to her death, and the service in the Abbey, seem to have united people round the world in a rather inspiring way. William and Harry have been so brave and I am very proud of them."

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma , a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram .

@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-11dm4xz:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-transform:scale(-1, 1);-moz-transform:scale(-1, 1);-ms-transform:scale(-1, 1);transform:scale(-1, 1);background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-11dm4xz:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/latest/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-11dm4xz:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}} The Crown @media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-pog6h6:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-pog6h6:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/latest/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-pog6h6:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}}

Queen Camilla's Life in Photos

'The Crown' Creator Reveals His Next Project

William & Kate Were Roommates at St Andrews

How Did Prince William and Kate Middleton Meet?

King Charles III's Life in Photos

'The Crown' Leads BAFTA TV Nominations

Elizabeth Debicki Wins SAG Award

Dominic West Stayed in Bed After 'The Crown'

The Crown's Costumes, Props, and More at Auction

Elizabeth Debicki Stuns in Dior

Elizabeth Debicki's Best Red Carpet Looks

Death of Princess Diana

Queen Elizabeth II addressed the nation on the death of Princess Diana . She paid tribute to Diana’s compassion and thanked persons around the world for the expressions of support for her family.

Javascript must be enabled in order to access C-SPAN videos.

• Text type Federal News Service Transcript Text People Graphical Timeline
• Filter by Speaker All Speakers Elizabeth II
• Search this text

*This text was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

People in this video

Hosting Organization

• Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace

Airing Details

• Sep 05, 1997 | 9:54pm EDT | C-SPAN 1
• Sep 06, 1997 | 4:11am EDT | C-SPAN 1

Related Video

Canada Day Celebration

The Canadian Public Affairs Channel provided a look at Queen Elizabeth’s attendance at several ceremonies and events rel…

Queen Elizabeth Birthday Celebration

The United Kingdom celebrated the official birthday of the reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth birthday. Dressed Military T…

Republican Response

Elizabeth Dole, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole, delivered the Republican response to the preside…

Between the Lines

This program is look back at 1993 in Texas politics. The guests are Democratic and Republican political activists and is…

Royal lookback: The Queen's historic address following Princess Diana's death

By Maddison Leach | 4 years ago

In her decades-long reign, Queen Elizabeth has only given a formal address to the nation a handful of times.

One of the most memorable was also the most tragic, Her Majesty appearing for a televised address just days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The 'People's Princess' had died in a tragic car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, leaving her sons without a mother and the nation without one of its most beloved royals.

On the eve of her funeral, Diana was remembered by her grandmother-in-law the Queen in an address that left millions of mourners touched.

Dressed in black and wearing pearls, Her Majesty spoke to the people of Britain and abroad from the Chinese Dining Room in Buckingham Palace on September 5.

Behind her a window stood open, revealing the crowds that had gathered outside the palace to pay their respects to Diana and leave thousands of flowers and tributes.

Her Majesty's speech was written by a number of royal advisors and then passed to the Queen for approval, she and Prince Philip choosing to make several amendments to improve its tone.

It's understood she wanted the speech to feel less like the official statement of a monarch, and the iconic phrase "speaking as a grandmother" was added.

"We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart," Her Majesty said in the opening of her address.

"First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness."

Originally the address was going to be pre-recorded and broadcast after the fact, but the government urged royal officials to have the Queen deliver it live.

They agreed, and on the evening of September 5 Her Majesty sat down and spoke to a grieving nation not as their monarch, but "as a grandmother".

It was a moving moment that came after days of frustration among many of Diana's greatest fans.

The monarchy had been quiet in the days immediately after her death and some critics claimed the Queen and royal family were ignoring the tragedy of her loss.

Her Majesty, who had been at Balmoral when news of Diana's death came in, took "too long" to return to London in the eyes of the public.

It's true Diana had a rocky relationship with the royals following her divorce from Prince Charles the year prior.

Since leaving the monarchy, she had struck out on her own and continued to be immensely popular among the public for her charity work and humanitarian efforts.

However, a resurfaced letter sent in the wake of Diana's death revealed the Queen's true heartbreak over her passing.

"It was indeed dreadfully sad, and she is a huge loss to the country," Her Majesty wrote, per  The Express .

"But the public reaction to her death and the service in the Abbey seem to have united people around the world in a rather inspiring way."

Indeed, public frustration melted away when the Queen addressed the nation and paid tribute to Diana.

"I admired and respected her - for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys," the Queen said.

"No-one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her.

"I for one believe that there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death. I share in your determination to cherish her memory."

It was only the second time in the Queen's reign that she addressed the nation, and her speech had a massive impact on the public, with attitudes towards the monarchy quickly shifting.

The next day Diana was buried, and the Queen joined other members of the royal family at the ceremony and on a walkabout afterwards.

During the walkabout she spoke with the crowds mourning Diana and observed the thousands of flowers and tributes left for her, grandsons William and Harry at Her Majesty's side.

It was a rare moment for the Queen, who has always maintained an air of formality and duty at official events.

Yet during her address and the funeral that followed, she gave her people a rare glimpse at the grandmother behind the title "Queen".

• Princess Diana
• Queen Elizabeth

Auto news: 'What I wish I'd known before buying an electric car'.

New $30m Hamilton Island resort combines two surprising things

Inside the new residential cruise ship with Aussie at the helm

Link Charles Spencer's seven children share with aunt Diana

• United Kingdom

Why There’s Still So Much Controversy 25 Years After Princess Diana’s Death

W ednesday marks 25 years since Princess Diana’s death thrust not only the British royal family but the entire world into shock and mourning. Diana, then 36-years-old, was a glamorous celebrity known for her advocacy for AIDS patients and land mine removal in developing countries.

She was also one of the English-speaking world’s most well-known women, who millions had watched evolve from a shy 20-year-old wife of the older Prince Charles into a global figure whose legacy spurred major changes to the traditional royal family .

Below, how Diana died and her legacy.

What happened on Aug. 31?

The “ People’s Princess ” was killed in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997. The incident raised scrutiny over the tabloid press’ coverage of her as well as conspiracy theories around the circumstances of her death.

Diana’s boyfriend at the time, Egyptian-born Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul also died in the crash, which occurred as they tried to evade a group of paparazzi on motorcycles, having left the Ritz Paris to go to Dodi’s apartment. Their vehicle had been reaching speeds of more than 60 mph, although the speed limit was 30 mph; the car eventually rammed into a pillar in the middle of a highway.

In the immediate aftermath of the crash, other paparazzi on the scene faced criticism for taking pictures instead of trying to help, according to witness testimony .

Many initially blamed the paparazzi for causing the crash but a French judge cleared them of wrongdoing in 1999. Prosecutors later revealed that the driver, Paul, had a blood alcohol level three times above the country’s legal limit . An extensive 2006 Scotland Yard investigation determined the crash was a “tragic accident.” But in April 2008, a British jury ruled that the driver and paparazzi were both to blame for grossly negligent driving.

That hasn’t stopped wider scrutiny of the press’ role in hounding Diana and her family. Their fascination with Diana was in part due to her colorful and daring fashion style but also because of the ways she broke from royal tradition .

Diana’s close family members have maintained their strong criticism of the paparazzi. Her brother, Charles Spencer, described his sister as “ the most hunted person of the modern age ”—referring to the press constantly trailing her.

Read More: TIME’s Original 1997 Special Report on Princess Diana’s Death

Fayed’s father, Mohamed al-Fayed, had previously claimed that Diana was pregnant with his son’s child but that has since been disproven by a forensic inquiry . He has also criticized what he says was the royal family’s disapproval of Diana and Dodi’s relationship, citing Dodi’s heritage and Muslim faith .

Diana had publicly discussed her unhappy marriage to Prince Charles, to the Palace’s disapproval, admitting in a bombshell interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir in 1995 that both had extramarital affairs. “There were three of us in this marriage , so it was a bit crowded,” she said, referring to Prince Charles’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles would later marry Parker Bowles in 2005, with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip not in attendance.

Diana and Prince Charles officially divorced in 1996.

The Royal Family’s response

The Queen’s first public address came five days after Diana’s death. “I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being,” she said in a speech broadcast to the nation. “In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness.”

But the delay in acknowledgement raised scrutiny among some in the British public. Mary Francis, an aide to the Queen, told Newsweek in a 2017 interview that she believed the family was “ somewhat slow , perhaps, to recognize the need to step forward in their public role of showing leadership for the country in its grief about the death of the princess.”

Read More: The 5 Biggest Takeaways From HBO’s New Diana Documentary, The Princess

In recent years, Prince Harry, one of Diana’s two sons, has spoken more openly about his grief. “ I was so angry with what happened to her —and the fact that there was no justice at all. Nothing came from that. The same people that chased her into the tunnel photographed her dying on the backseat of that car,” he said in the 2021 Apple TV+ documentary The Me You Can’t See .

Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, told British media in 2017 that he had been lied to by palace courtiers about the two princes, then 12 and 15, wanting to walk behind their mother’s coffin at the internationally televised funeral. It was a “ bizarre and cruel thing ,” he said, explaining that he had pushed for the duo not to have to do so. He called the procession “the most horrifying half an hour of my life.”

Prince Harry had previously spoken out about how difficult walking behind his mother at the funeral procession was. “My mother had just died and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television,” he told Newsweek in a 2017 interview. “I don’t think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don’t think it would happen today.” He later, reflecting on the occasion, said that he was “ very glad ” to have been part of the day.

The relationship between Diana and the paparazzi

The British paparazzi earned a reputation for closely following Diana’s every move; she was one of the most photographed people in the world and snapshots of her could sell for lucrative prices—hundreds of thousands of dollars a piece.

In 1993, Diana sued Mirror Group Newspapers for publishing pictures of her working out in a gym. She also spoke openly about her disdain of being endlessly pursued by paparazzi; once, yelling out to a photographer who took a picture of her leaving a movie theater in 1993: “ you make my life hell. ”

Read More : The Princess and the Paparazzi: How Diana’s Death Changed the British Media

At a speech in December 1993, Diana said that she knew starting a public life would entail media attention but she didn’t realize just how much of her private life would be scrutinized, too. “I was not aware of how overwhelming that attention would become. Nor the extent to which it would affect both my public duties and my personal life, in a manner that’s been hard to bear,” she said.

A 1997 Gallup poll found that 43% of Brits thought photographers were “extremely” responsible for the accident that led to Diana’s death, compared to 33% who assigned the same level of blame to the driver.

A more recent 2018 YouGov poll found that Princess Diana is Britain’s most mourned public figure, a sign of her lasting legacy a quarter of a century after her death.

More Must-Reads from TIME

• Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
• Heman Bekele Is TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year
• The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris
• What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
• A Battle Over Fertility Law in China
• The 1 Heart-Health Habit You Should Start When You’re Young
• Cuddling Might Help You Get Better Sleep
• The 50 Best Romance Novels to Read Right Now

Write to Sanya Mansoor at [email protected]

SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

• Meet the team
• Privacy Policy
• Royal Weddings
• Media & Commentary requests

On This Day in 1997: The Queen addresses the nation following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales

At 6pm on September 5 1997, The Queen spoke live to the nation to pay tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died a week earlier in Paris.

Her Majesty was placed under considerable pressure to deliver the unprecedented speech following a barrage of criticism directed at the monarch for her behaviour in the days after Diana’s death.

The Queen had drawn criticism for staying in Scotland with Princes William and Harry and for not lowering the flag at Buckingham Palace.

But her speech on the eve of Diana’s funeral showed that her first duty had been “as a grandmother” to her grieving grandchildren and shifted public sentiment.

The Queen’s Address to the nation in full:

“Since last Sunday’s dreadful news we have seen, throughout Britain and around the world, an overwhelming expression of sadness at Diana’s death.

“We have all been trying in our different ways to cope. It is not easy to express a sense of loss, since the initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings: disbelief, incomprehension, anger – and concern for those who remain. We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.

“First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her – for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys. This week at Balmoral, we have all been trying to help William and Harry come to terms with the devastating loss that they and the rest of us have suffered.

“No-one who knew Diana will ever forget her. Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her. I for one believe there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death. I share in your determination to cherish her memory.

“This is also an opportunity for me, on behalf of my family, and especially Prince Charles and William and Harry, to thank all of you who have brought flowers, sent messages and paid your respects in so many ways to a remarkable person. These acts of kindness have been a huge source of help and comfort.

“Our thoughts are also with Diana’s family and the families of those who died with her. I know that they too have drawn strength from what has happened since last weekend, as they seek to heal their sorrow and then to face the future without a loved one.

“I hope that tomorrow we can all, wherever we are, join in expressing our grief at Diana’s loss, and gratitude for her all-too-short life. It is a chance to show to the whole world the British nation united in grief and respect.

“May those who died rest in peace and may we, each and every one of us, thank God for someone who made many, many people happy.”

This was only the second time The Queen had addressed the nation outside of her Christmas Day broadcast.

The first occasion was in 1991 when the monarch addressed the nation on the Gulf War – her only wartime broadcast.

Subsequently, Her Majesty has made speeches upon the death of her mother, a celebratory message to mark her Diamond Jubilee, and just this year released two messages.

One of her 2020 addressed to the nation concerned the ongoing public health emergency, and the other marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Share this:

Latest posts, king frederik and queen mary wrap up successful summer cruise, the emerald engagement ring at the heart of this summer's big royal wedding, the royal bride who wore artificial flowers in her hair on her wedding day, if you find the right mattress you can sleep like a king, never miss the latest, most popular, the queen watches on with pride as lady louise drives prince philip’s carriages at windsor horse show, an annus horribilis in monaco a difficult year for albert and charlene finally winds to an end, the duchess of cambridge wows tv audiences with a musical piano performance on christmas eve, latest blogs.

The future queen who went Victorian with orange blossoms instead of diamonds at her wedding

The tiara given to a royal bride who became a record breaking duchess.

The sparkling royal tiaras with no jewels that are favourites of a future queen

Princess Margaret's favourite fashion designers

How Did Queen Elizabeth II React to Princess Diana’s Death?

Season six of The Crown re-creates the events that followed Diana’s tragic accident

Tony Blair, who was prime minister of the U.K. at the time, called Diana the “people’s princess” while paying tribute in the days after her death, Smithsonian Magazine notes. The moniker stuck, and Diana has been known by it ever since. The queen, however, did not immediately comment on Diana’s passing, leaving the public to wonder how she really felt about the princess’s death. Here, we explore how Queen Elizabeth reacted to Princess Diana’s death.

How did the queen react when she found out Diana had died?

Princess Diana died after being in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris on August 31, 1997. Although she survived the crash itself, Diana died from her injuries after being transported to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, the Associated Press says. Understandably, the world eagerly awaited comment from the royal family, but Queen Elizabeth remained silent for several days after the tragedy.

When the queen failed to release a statement in the first days after Diana’s death, the general public grew angry, The Washington Post recalled. The monarch stayed out of sight at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, along with other members of the royal family, including Diana’s sons, princes William and Harry. According to the Post , the British subjects were particularly upset that Diana’s coffin was at St. James’s Palace in London while the royal family was elsewhere. But it seems the royals’ absence was for an important reason.

Later, Elizabeth would reveal she had been spending time with her grandsons in the wake of their mother’s sudden and untimely death. “This week at Balmoral, we have all been trying to help William and Harry come to terms with the devastating loss that they and the rest of us have suffered,” she said in a speech on September 5, five days after Diana’s death, the royal family’s website says.

In an interview with CNN in 2012, the queen’s first cousin Margaret Rhodes confirmed the monarch’s desire to remain at Balmoral, saying, “She was being a proper granny. What was the point of bringing the boys down to sit in London with nothing to do but sit there feeling sad about Mom?” The Crown’ s sixth season depicts Elizabeth’s desire to spend time with her grandsons at Balmoral, rather than returning to London too quickly. However, as the show also notes, the monarch’s strong sense of duty meant she did need to return to Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to Diana publicly.

What did the queen say about Princess Diana’s death?

In the wake of Diana’s death , the general public was eager to hear from Queen Elizabeth. The queen finally addressed the nation in her September 5 televised speech about the Princess of Wales. “First, I want to pay tribute to Diana myself,” she said. “She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her—for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”

As well as promising to support Diana’s sons, the queen paid tribute to the princess’s memory and the impact Diana had on the world. “No one who knew Diana will ever forget her,” she said. “Millions of others who never met her, but felt they knew her, will remember her. I for one believe there are lessons to be drawn from her life and from the extraordinary and moving reaction to her death. I share in your determination to cherish her memory.”

In a September 2022 appearance on Today (via People ), former PM Blair discussed the queen’s reaction to Diana’s death, saying, “In the end, she understood, because always her duty came first.”

“She had to respond to this extraordinary outpouring of grief about Princess Diana … a sense that something had happened that shouldn't have happened, and that Diana had been taken from people who really did love her,” he said. According to Blair, the queen was well aware she needed to address the nation regarding Diana’s death, even though she didn’t do so immediately. “She sensed it, and then she responded,” he explained. “And when she responded, she responded perfectly.”

The queen’s emotional speech followed an unexpected appearance by the monarch at the gates of Buckingham Palace on September 5. Having returned from Balmoral with the rest of the royal family, Elizabeth was seen speaking to people who had gathered at the palace to pay tribute to the late princess. The queen also viewed the sprawling wreaths, flowers, and gifts laid out in front of Buckingham Palace in Diana’s memory, The Washington Post said.

What did the queen do at Diana’s funeral?

Any initial anger at Queen Elizabeth reportedly dissipated at Princess Diana’s funeral on September 6, 1997, at Westminster Abbey in London. Per The Washington Post , the monarch broke protocol at the funeral by bowing as Diana’s casket passed by. Typically, people bow to the queen, and not the other way around—meaning that her gesture was one of immense respect, and it did not go unnoticed.

The former Princess of Wales was subsequently buried on the grounds of her childhood home of Althorp, on an island in the middle of a lake, per the BBC .

Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness , and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.

All About The Crown: News, Spoilers, and Episode Recaps

What to Know About “The Crown” Season 6 Part 2

What Elizabeth Debicki Learned From Diana

Who Is Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dodi's Father?

How The Crown Swallowed the Royal Family

Meet Your New Kate Middleton

Comparing The Crown Actors to Will & Kate

The Crown ’s S6 Trailer Is All About Diana

Why Prince Philip's Title Wasn't King

Elizabeth Debicki on Making Princess Diana Her Own

Yes, The Crown's Tampongate Really Happened

The True Story Behind Diana's 'Panorama' Interview

Screen Rant

How the crown's speech compares to queen elizabeth's address on diana's death.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

How Accurate The Crown Season 6 Is To The True Story Of Princess Diana's Death

How katja herbers changed evil season 4's ending detailed by creator, original avatar: the last airbender actor disappointed one toph arc was never explored.

Warning: spoilers ahead for The Crown season 6.

• The Crown season 6 accurately recreates Queen Elizabeth's speech about Princess Diana's death, using the same wording as the real-life address.
• The controversial aspect of the show's portrayal lies in the cinematography, with the Queen being underlit and underfocused in the speech scene.
• The Crown often takes artistic liberties with historical events, including the appearance of Diana's ghost, which has received mixed reviews.

The Crown season 6 has dramatized the death of Princess Diana and the royal family’s response to the tragedy, but how accurate is Queen Elizabeth’s speech? One of Netflix’s most popular original shows, The Crown has chronicled the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 through to the early 21st century. The sixth and final season of The Crown is being released in two volumes. The first volume kicks off in 1997 and focuses primarily on the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

While its production value has been consistently praised, The Crown season 6 has received mixed reviews for devolving into soap opera territory. The scenes featuring Diana’s ghost appearing to her loved ones have sparked some controversy for their disrespectful portrayal of a real person’s death. The Crown often takes artistic liberties with the historical events it dramatizes, with the appearance of Diana’s ghost being a prime example. But how accurate is the Queen’s speech following Diana’s untimely passing?

The Crown season 6, part 1 finally depicts the events leading up to Princess Diana's death, but how accurate are the episodes to the true story?

Queen Elizabeth's Address On Diana's Death Is Recreated Verbatim In The Crown Season 6

The last episode of the first volume of The Crown ’s final season – season 6, episode 4, “Aftermath” – begins with Diana dying as a result of a car crash. The episode shows Charles breaking the news to William and Harry, Mohamed returning Diana’s personal effects to the royal family, and Elizabeth agreeing to give Diana a ceremonial funeral. The final scene depicts Philip, Charles, William, Harry, and Diana’s brother Earl Spencer all walking behind the funeral procession before the Queen delivers a televised address about Diana’s passing.

Rather than rewriting the speech or changing the wording of it, screenwriter Peter Morgan copied it word for word into the teleplay.

Queen Elizabeth’s speech about Diana’s death in The Crown season 6 is 100% accurate to the real-life address. Rather than rewriting the speech or changing the wording of it, screenwriter Peter Morgan copied it word for word into the teleplay. Imelda Staunton delivers the address the same way the Queen did in real life. The speech can be read in full on the official Royal website .

Why The Crown Season 6 Makes The Lighting So Different From The Queen's Real Speech

If there’s one aspect of Netflix originals that rarely receives praise, it’s cinematography. Netflix’s movies and TV shows are lit and shot for viewing on TV screens and smartphones, so they’re not very cinematic. The weird look of the Queen’s speech in The Crown season 6 has become a pretty controversial part of Netflix’s lighting strategies. The speech is depicted in The Crown as being underlit on the Queen herself while the background is pretty overexposed, and leaves Elizabeth being underfocused. It’s an odd choice considering Elizabeth is perfectly in-focus and lit well in the real-life footage they’re supposed to be recreating.

Source: Royal website