Princess Diana’s former chef has blasted The Crown’s ‘sick’ decision to show the late royal lying in an open casket coffin in the upcoming series.
Darren McGrady – who worked as a personal chef for members of the royal family between 1982 and 1993 – has expressed his displeasure with how Netflix has been reported to portray Diana’s death.
According to The Sun, season six will show doctors covered in blood trying to save Diana – played by Elizabeth Debicki – after a car crash in Paris in August 1997.
The episode will also recreate the moment when King Charles visited his late wife’s body in a French hospital and showed Diana in an open casket.
For the public display and her state funeral in September 1997, Princess Diana’s coffin was closed and draped in a royal standard flag.
Voicing his anger on Twitter, Darren wrote: ‘Princess Diana’s casket was closed as she lay in state in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace.
‘I know, I’ve been there. This is the latest ill from the Crown!’
The publication reports that the decision to show Diana in a coffin upset crew members working on the Netflix series.
One said: ‘They actually made Elizabeth climb into a coffin and play dead like Diana. Viewers will see a French priest conduct Diana’s funeral as she is pronounced dead.’
‘Prince Charles entered the room and burst into tears. In her hysteria she notices that Diana is missing an earring. He can only concentrate on keeping sorrow engulfing him.’
They added: ‘Prince William and Harry have never seen their mother dead in a coffin and they don’t have to. Neither should the British public.’
Crew members are said to be concerned with scriptwriters and producers exceeding the top rush rating.
Another crew member said: ‘Everyone was very uncomfortable shooting. It is obscene and should be banned from airing.’
Netflix has insisted that the ‘exact moment’ of the crash will not appear in the controversial drama, which has recently come under fire for sensationalism and inaccuracies.
A friend of Diana’s says the show’s makers could face accusations of ‘sensitivity’ over filming in Paris. Debbie Frank, who was Diana’s astrologer, said it would be ‘terrifying’ for Princes William and Harry to watch a recreation of the moments leading up to their mother’s death.
‘It’s obviously awful that Diana’s children will have to see it again. It’s sensitive,’ she said.
He added: ‘I feel Diana’s death and the accident was the biggest shock of our generation. It had such a huge impact across the national psyche.
‘I guess the makers of The Crown feel they have the right to show reruns of the scenes leading up to his death and that has dramatic effect. But relatives will think otherwise.’
Diana’s former bodyguard Ken Wharfe told The Sun that William would find the scenes ‘disgusting’ and Charles would be ‘horrified’.
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Elizabeth Debicki mirrors Princess Diana as she is swarmed by paparazzi with Dodi Fayed during their final stint filming season one of The Crown in London.
