Princess Diana’s iconic landmine walk is recreated by The Crown – as Netflix boss Ted Sarandos says there’s a ‘wall around’ discussing the series with Prince Harry
Princess Diana‘s famous landmine walk has been recreated in the sixth and final season of Netflix’s The Crown.
In one of the last and most defining acts of her life, the princess was seen walking through a minefield in Angola to promote the vital work of a warzone charity.
Now, images from the hit series show actress Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Diana in season six of the royal drama, re-enacting the princess’ walk in 1997.
Debicki is seen wearing an exact replica of Diana’s outfit, which meticulously mimics her chunky gold earrings, blown-out hairstyle and white shirt.
It comes as Netflix boss Ted Sarandos revealed there’s a ‘wall around’ discussing The Crown with Prince Harry.
In one of the last and most defining acts of her life, Princess Diana was seen walking through a minefield in Angola (pictured left) to promote the vital work of the Halo Trust. Pictured right, recently-released images show actress Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Diana in season six of the royal drama, re-enacting the Princess’ walk
Elizabeth Debicki is seen wearing an exact replica of Diana’s outfit (pictured centre), which meticulously mimics her chunky gold earrings, blown-out hairstyle and white shirt
The streaming service’s CEO told Variety how he has never talked about the hit royal drama with the US-based Duke of Sussex, 39, who has an estimated £80million development deal at Netflix.
‘We keep a wall around this topic when we talk,’ he said, ‘for obvious reasons’, while The Crown’s creator Peter Morgan added that he’s also ‘never had the conversation with [Harry] about it’, despite the royal previously joking he ‘fact-checks’ the series.
Morgan, meanwhile, explained that he’s not read the Duke’s bombshell memoir Spare, explaining: ‘I’ve not read a word of it. Not that I wouldn’t be interested. But I didn’t want his voice to inhabit my thinking too much. I’ve got a lot of sympathy with him.’
Breaking from tradition, the sixth and final series will be released in two sections. Part one will be available on the streaming service on November 16, while part two will be revealed on December 14.
But the release of the images recreating Diana’s landmine walk has shown that the warzone charity supported by the princess has been snubbed in the final series.
British organisation, Halo Trust, has been snubbed by Netflix in its recreation of the visit – by replacing its name with a New Zealand-based group.
The Crown’s creators changed one key detail in Diana’s outfit: replacing the Halo Trust branded protective vest with a badge of a charity called ‘ReliefAid’.
Staff at the Halo Trust, which clears deadly landmines left in conflict zones, were understood to be baffled by the snub.
‘We weren’t asked or consulted about the scene. Obviously, we would have been delighted had our logo been on the PPE, which is what really happened,’ said a spokesperson for the charity.
They added: ‘Princess Diana’s advocacy helped to get the 1997 landmine ban over the line and that is an incredibly powerful legacy.’
But The Crown’s creators changed one key detail: replacing the Halo Trust branded protective vest with a badge of a charity called ‘ReliefAid’ (pictured)
Insiders at the Halo Trust felt it was ‘a shame’ that Netflix bosses chose not to include them, as the series could have promoted the charity to The Crown’s global audience of 73 million viewers. Pictured, Diana
The Crown’s snub also stirred confusion 11,000 miles away in New Zealand, home to a real humanitarian organisation called ReliefAid that provides emergency aid to conflict zones. Pictured, Diana walking through a minefield in Angola
Insiders at the Halo Trust felt it was ‘a shame’ that Netflix bosses chose not to include them, as the series could have promoted the charity to The Crown’s global audience of 73 million viewers.
The trust relies on donations for its life-saving work across six continents to clear landmines and explosives.
Mail readers donated £2.1million to The Halo Trust through the Mail Force campaign following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which helped finance its work to clear minefields in regions previously besieged by Kremlin forces.
The Crown’s snub also stirred confusion 11,000 miles away in New Zealand, home to a real humanitarian organisation called ReliefAid that provides emergency aid to conflict zones.
‘Netflix did not contact us and ReliefAid did not agree for Netflix to use our name,’ said Anne Bulley, ReliefAid’s communications director.
The final series (pictured), which airs from next month, will explore the events surrounding Diana’s tragic death in Paris in 1997, and will close on the royal wedding of Charles and Camilla
She added: ‘We were founded in 2015, have never worked in Angola and do not do mine clearance.
‘Perhaps Netflix would like to make a donation to The Halo Trust and ReliefAid to recognise their misrepresentation of both our organisations and the vital work we do to help victims of conflict.
‘I suspect the use of the name is a coincidence, because to my knowledge we are the only registered charity using the name ReliefAid.’
The final series, which airs from next month, will explore the events surrounding Diana’s tragic death in Paris in 1997, and will close on the royal wedding of Charles and Camilla.
The controversial series has already made headlines with news that Princess Diana will appear as a ‘ghost’ for an emotional reconciliation with a grieving Prince Charles.
Royal insiders suggested the latest instalment will likely be considered in poor taste, particularly as ‘deeply painful memories for members of the family are reduced to sensationalism’.
Netflix has released new images to promote the final series of the hit drama – including a poster (above) showcasing the three actors who played Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown standing side-by-side
It comes after Netflix released new images to promote the final series of the hit drama – including a poster showcasing the three actors who played Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown standing side-by-side.
Shared to X, formerly Twitter, today, the touching image was posted with the caption: ‘Duty lasts a lifetime.’
Advertising the final season of the series, the picture shows the latest Queen, Imelda Staunton, leading the three women.
Dressed in a black frock and a pearl necklace, she stands in front of Olivia Colman, who sports a shimmering diamond-encrusted gown and a dainty tiara.
Claire Foy – the first actress to play Queen Elizabeth in the series – is last to be seen in the poster as she stares out into the distance while sporting a dazzling tiara and a gold gown.