Netflix’s “The Crown” has been lauded for its dramatic portrayal of the British royal family. However, it has also been criticized for its creative liberties, particularly in the depiction of a meeting between Kate Middleton and Princess Diana.
Did Kate Middleton really meet Princess Diana, as show on #TheCrown? https://t.co/i3FkZfEUEY
— TV Insider (@TVInsider) December 14, 2023
The Fictional Meeting
In “The Crown”, Kate Middleton is shown meeting Princess Diana, a scene that is purely fictional. There is no historical evidence to suggest that such a meeting ever took place.
Given their public profiles, it is highly unlikely that they would have crossed paths unnoticed on the streets of London.
We three queens: commemorative artwork by Malika Favre to celebrate The Crown. Season 6 is now streaming on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/sDiFUPuaDg
— The Crown (@TheCrownNetflix) December 14, 2023
The show’s creators have acknowledged using artistic license to create this scene, emphasizing that it was not their intention to portray Kate as a copycat of Diana.
The Historical Facts and Creative Liberties
While the show does incorporate some historical facts, it also takes creative liberties. For instance, it is accurate that Kate and Prince William met at St Andrew University in 2002.
It is also true that William supported The Big Issue, a charity magazine founded by Princess Diana, and sold copies for charity.
However, the depiction of them meeting while collecting money for The Big Issue on the streets of London is a fabrication by the show’s writers, intended to create a romantic backstory for their characters.
Reactions from the Royal Family
There have been reactions from the royal family and individuals close to Kate Middleton regarding the accuracy of the depicted meeting.
Our family Christmas card for 2023 🎄❤️
📸 Josh Shinner pic.twitter.com/X9du9EkpaI
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 9, 2023
Prince William expressed in 2017 his wish that his mother could have met Kate and seen their children grow up, but also acknowledged the sadness that she never did.
Similarly, Kate expressed in her 2010 engagement video that she would have loved to have met her mother-in-law. On the other hand, some royal biographers and experts have praised the show’s accuracy in depicting other aspects of Princess Diana’s life and death.
Historical Records and Credible Sources
There are no historical records or credible sources that confirm such a meeting between Kate Middleton and Princess Diana. However, there are records suggesting that they had some interactions or meetings through other channels.
Such a special evening with @earlychildhood here at Westminster Abbey, joining so many wonderful people who do so much to support babies and children in our communities. pic.twitter.com/6dz0F7UE2m
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) December 8, 2023
For example, according to royal biographer Andrew Morton’s book “Diana: In Her Own Words”, Diana did house chores at her sister Sarah’s house during her separation from Charles. Royal historian Robert Lacey’s book “The Queen: A Biography” states that Diana visited Sarah Ferguson at Balmoral Castle several times during her separation from Charles.
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards’ book “A Royal Romance: The Love Story Between Prince Charles And Lady Diana Spencer” reveals that Charles proposed to Diana at Balmoral Castle in 1981 with a sapphire ring designed by Cartier, but does not mention any meeting between them before or after their engagement.
Timeline Discrepancies
The timeline of events in “The Crown” aligns with the actual timeline of Kate Middleton’s life and Princess Diana’s life to some extent.
However, there are also some discrepancies. For example, in reality, Kate Middleton was born on April 21st, 1982, while in “The Crown”, she was born on April 21st, 1983. Similarly, Prince William was born on June 21st, 1982, in reality, while in “The Crown”, he was born on June 21st, 1983.
Christmas staff party, 1993. pic.twitter.com/yYqSp0ALoH
— David (@Davidls6) November 27, 2023
Prince Harry was born on September 15th, 1984, in reality, while in “The Crown”, he was born on September 15th, 1985. Princess Diana died on August 31st, 1997, in reality, but the show depicts her death as occurring a year later.
In conclusion, while “The Crown” offers a captivating portrayal of the British royal family, viewers should be aware of its blend of fact and fiction, particularly in scenes involving current and past members of the royal family.
