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MUMBAI:
This month The History Channel (THC) and CNN will commemorate
the 10th death anniversary of Princess Diana.
THC
will air an hour-long film Double F, Last Days of a Princess
on 31 August at 9 pm. The film presents insights into the
private machinations behind Diana’s very public life.
and is a dramatic recreation of the final days of Diana’s
life and the circumstances of her death.
The
special programme on Princess Diana provides a look at the
death of one of 20th century’s greatest icons, also known
as ‘People's Princess’.
The
film also explores the early official investigation into the
1997 car crash that killed Princess Diana, Dodi Al Fayed and
their driver Henri Paul. Interviews – including eye-witnesses
speaking on record for the first time – are blended with
full-scale drama in the two-hour movie.
Meanwhile,
CNN will air the documentary Growing Up Diana on 31
August and 1 September at 7:30 pm. Through the words of people
who knew her first hand, some of whom have never spoken previously,
CNN's Soledad O'Brien reports on the early years of the former
Princess of Wales. This hour-long documentary begins with
her years growing up in the shadow of royalty and ends as
her marriage to Prince Charles approached troubled times.
O'Brien
takes viewers on location to explore Diana's childhood home,
the place where she met Prince Charles, and the roots of her
insecurities.
The
documentary features interviews including one with Inga Crane,
Diana's childhood au pair and a 2001 CNN interview
with Diana's brother, Lord Charles Spencer. It also includes
rare interviews with Robert Spencer, Diana's cousin; Mary
Clarke, Diana's childhood nanny; Penny Walker, Diana's former
music teacher; James Colthurst, Diana's close friend and confidante;
and Mary Robertson, an American expatriate for whom Diana
worked as a nanny. Robertson gives CNN viewers a first-ever
look at Diana's personal correspondence to her, revealing
personal stories of a very public woman.
Despite
being born into a family of extraordinary privilege, the young
Diana Spencer did not have the happiest of childhoods. The
documentary reveals that early feelings of inadequacy and
need for approval may have instilled emotional insecurities
that followed Diana into her adult life.
Her
parents' bitter divorce and custody battle left psychological
wounds. Mary Clarke recalls a young Diana making a precocious
declaration about divorce during their first meeting: "She
said, ‘I will never marry unless I'm really in love,
because if you're not in love, you're going to get divorced,
and I never intend to get divorced.'"
Penny
Walker, who taught Diana at West Heath School for Girls, describes
her as distracted by her family troubles, which grew even
more complicated when her father began dating and later suffered
a stroke. Walker said Diana seemed to find solace in music,
swimming and, notably, volunteer service. Walker also remembered
that at age 13, Diana had an intense crush on Prince Charles,
instead of the usual pop stars her friends idolized.
The
documentary follows Diana through her courtship with Prince
Charles, noting that they first met when she was just 16 years
old and began dating in secret when she was 18 and Charles
was 31. Despite being hounded by reporters when news broke
of their relationship, Diana was careful to stay silent until
the engagement was announced.
O'Brien
takes viewers behind the scenes of the most watched wedding
of all time - more than 750 million people worldwide tuned
in - with insiders at Diana's side including one of her bridesmaids,
her wedding gown designer and a close friend who says Diana
almost canceled the wedding at the last minute.
Although
the marriage was ultimately ill-fated, her friends recall
Diana as a warm, loving woman who adored her children, invested
time and compassion into causes such as land mines and HIV/Aids,
and ultimately changed the face of the modern monarchy. Essential
to that legacy are her two sons, William and Harry, who have
followed in her philanthropic footsteps and recently gave
a benefit concert in support of her favourite charities.
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