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Diana Unheard: three-part documentary built on all of Princess Diana's 1991 tapes

Love Monday TV's three-part documentary Diana Unheard uses roughly five hours of Princess Diana's recorded interviews, including audio not heard before. The UK press links it to Earl Spencer's dispute with the Palace.

2 outlets · 1L · 1C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Deadline
Image: Daily Mirror

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Love Monday TV has made a three-part documentary, Diana Unheard, that features Princess Diana in her own words using audio tapes, some of it never heard before. Centre · 1The tapes are interviews between Diana and her friend James Colthurst, recorded in 1991, which journalist Andrew Morton used for his 1992 book 'Diana: Her True Story'. Diana's involvement was not revealed until after her death in 1997. Mixed · 2Segments have aired before, including in Nat Geo's 2017 film Diana: In Her Own Words, but Deadline reports the producers had access to all of the tapes, about five hours in total. The Daily Mirror says this is thought to be the first time one organisation has been given the whole archive at once.

Centre · 1Morton, publisher Michael O'Mara and Colthurst agreed to the use of the audio and all appear in the series, alongside Diana's former lover Major James Hewitt. Centre · 1According to Deadline, the tapes include Diana speaking about Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, her sons and the line of succession, and her relationship with Queen Camilla. The episodes are titled Got To Get Out; You're On Your Own; and Time Is Precious. Mixed · 2Love Monday creative director Kerene Barefield said the tapes counter the media view of Diana as sad, lonely and manipulated, and show a brave woman with agency. She said the aim was to give Diana a voice, not to settle old scores.

Mixed · 2Deadline says the tapes cover some of the ground in Earl Spencer's recent book 'Swan Song', which sparked a war of words between him and the Palace. The Mirror reports that Spencer claimed King Charles said "rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough" after Diana's death, and that the Palace replied it does not comment on books but that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason". Mixed · 2The Mirror says the series is due next year, the 30th anniversary of Diana's death, and suggests it could bring more context to Spencer's claims; Deadline does not say this. Cineflix Rights is distributing it, with a launch at MIPCOM next week and buyer interest expected. The Mirror also mentions reports that Prince Harry is producing a documentary, with no official announcement.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Leads with the royal feud: secret tapes released after Earl Spencer's claims about the King.
Emphasis
Spencer's claim, the Palace statement, and the possible link to the tapes; Prince Harry's reported documentary.
Leaves out or plays down
Details of the tapes' contents about Camilla and Andrew, the interviewees and the distribution plans.
Charged language
“Secret tapes”
For example
“Previously unheard tapes recorded by Princess Diana are to be released and could expose the truth on claims made by her brother” — Daily Mirror

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Trade-press exclusive on how the producers got access to the tapes and what they hope to show.
Emphasis
Production detail, interviewees, episode titles, tape contents and sales at MIPCOM.
Leaves out or plays down
The Palace's statement and Spencer's specific claim about King Charles.
Charged language
“explosive”
For example
“Diana Unheard is the explosive three-part documentary that features the Princess in her own words.” — Deadline

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.