Prince Harry “risks worsening relations” with estranged brother Prince William amid reports the Duke of Sussex is in talks to make a documentary about their late mother Princess Diana, the Daily Express’ resident royal expert says.
Diana, who had sons William and Harry with ex-husband King Charles, tragically died in a car accident aged just 36 in 1997 when the boys were 15 and 12 respectively.
Documentary plans for 30th anniversary
Early last week, The Telegraph reported that Harry wants to mark the 30th anniversary of his mother’s death in August 2027, and has approached a number of friends and relatives of the Princess to ask whether they would be interested in taking part in a documentary.
The newspaper quoted a source close to the Duke as saying Harry has “discussed a number of possible projects to mark the 30th anniversary of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales’s passing”.
“Nothing has been finalised or confirmed, and he is still considering the most meaningful way to honour her legacy during this important anniversary year,” they added.
Commentary from Royals Unscripted
Daily Express royal editor Emily Ferguson discussed the prospect of Harry producing a tribute to Diana with Express columnist Carole Malone in the first episode of the Royals Unscripted podcast.
Carole said she believes it would not be a “good look” for the Prince, and that if a Harry-led programme materialises it may “start out as a tribute” but “it would end up being about him, it would be about his gripes regarding his mother and how she was treated”.
Carole acknowledged that the Princess “wasn't treated well for a lot of the time, but it was a long time ago”, adding that his older brother, and future King, William “has put it to rest, and he's getting on with his life”.
“I think people will still be saying 'why can't you move on? Stop. Stop talking about your family,'” she continued.
“But Harry will not let anything rest where his mother's concerned.”
Impact on the brothers' relationship
Harry has been deeply critical of the press intrusion Diana suffered after joining the royal family, and spoke of her unhappiness within the institution.
Emily said a new documentary from Harry “risks worsening relations” with his brother, who said after a previous documentary marking the 20th anniversary of Diana's death that both brothers took part in, “we won't be doing this again, we won't speak as openly or publicly about her again”.
She said the future king was speaking for both himself and Harry. And whilst Emily noted that their relationship was much better then, she believes Harry doing another one would be going “completely against William”.
Reporting has suggested William won't be taking part in any new documentaries on the subject, and Emily has heard he's likely to mark the anniversary privately with his family without fanfare. Carole said “that's the way to do it”.
The relationship between The Palace and Sussexes is understood to have been fraught since Harry and wife Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in 2020. After leaving the UK the couple publicly criticised the institution with Harry speaking openly about tensions with other members of the famously private family, including Prince William.
Despite the reported friction between the Palace and the Sussexes, the Duke made short trips to see his father King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, and visited him with Meghan and their children in July.
But Harry and William appear to have had precious little contact in recent years, if any. They aren't even thought to have been in the same room as each other since the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes in the summer of 2024.
Harry returned to live in the UK with Meghan and their two young children in late August, but there are no signs so far of an end to his estrangement from William.
