Celia Walden, the wife of broadcaster Piers Morgan, has criticised Netflix's The Crown for creating a replica of the Mercedes involved in the 1997 Paris car crash that killed Princess Diana. Writing in The Telegraph, the 47-year-old journalist described the prop as 'triggering' and accused the show of making a 'mockery' of its promise not to depict the exact moment of impact.
Walden acknowledged that the series is 'undoubtedly a thing of beauty, a work of art', but argued that the decision to recreate the mangled vehicle had gone too far. She suggested that 'royal fetishism' had replaced sensitivity, transforming the show from 'awe-inspiring' to 'sick'. She added that even those who never knew Diana had a 'deeply personal' connection to her as the 'people's princess'.
Walden's comments echo those of her husband, Piers Morgan, who previously described the show's portrayal of the Queen as 'a slur' and 'grotesquely unfair'. The couple's criticism comes as The Crown continues to divide viewers with its dramatisation of royal events.
The issue of graphic crash imagery was also raised by Prince Harry in a recent interview promoting his memoir, Spare. He revealed that his private secretary, Jamie, had shielded him from the most disturbing photographs of the crash, for which he remains 'eternally grateful'. Harry recalled seeing only 'the back of her blonde hair slumped on the seat' and not images of her face or blood.
Netflix has maintained that the events depicted in The Crown are a dramatisation and not intended to be an accurate historical record. However, leaked photos of the replica car have sparked fresh debate about the show's sensitivity.
