Yahoo News Did Dodi Propose to Diana? Fact-Checking ‘The Crown’ Season 6
It’s the arc that “The Crown” fans have waited for and dreaded: Princess Diana dies in Episode 3 of the Netflix series’ sixth and final season (returning as a spirit for the fourth and final episode of Part 1). While the fourth episode focuses on the aftermath of her death (and that of her then-boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed), the first three zero in on their relationship in the weeks leading up to their car crash in the Paris tunnel.
As usual with Peter Morgan’s fact-based drama, some truly wild stuff happens — and some of it is even true! But “The Crown” has always been slightly more interested in emotional truth than in a strict historical record, which means the line between fact and fiction tends to blur. And while many viewers have vivid memories of Diana’s death and the events in its wake, decades of documentaries, biopics, books, and conspiracy theories have made what led up to it hazy. But that’s what the internet is for! To save you the trouble, we’ve diligently fact-checked some of the odder moments in these four episodes. And though we’ll never know for sure if Diana appeared to her ex-husband and not to her sons, we can make a pretty educated guess.
More from IndieWire
Read on below for the real story behind some of Season 6 Part 1’s weirdest and most jaw-dropping moments.
Did Charles really throw Camilla a 50th birthday party that helped shift public perception?
Fact: Camilla’s 50th birthday party was the first public admission that they were still in a relationship since it was first revealed during Charles and Diana’s breakup. And contemporary reports prove that many Britons were in favor of the couple, wanting their future king of England to be happy without “scandal.” But the tides quickly turned when it seemed that Diana might have found happiness with Dodi Al Fayed.
Did Dodi Al Fayed’s former fiancée sue him?
Fact! Kelly Fisher sued Dodi for $500,000 after he broke off their engagement. (She dropped the suit after his death.) During a press conference regarding filing the lawsuit, Fisher (standing next to her attorney, Gloria Allred) told a reporter “No” when asked whether or not she would reconcile with or remain friends with Dodi. It was the only word she uttered.
Did Mohammed Al Fayed alert the paparazzi about his son and Diana’s whereabouts?
(Likely) fiction! No one knows who hired photographer Mario Brenna to get the shot that launched a thousand tabloid covers, but the photo of Dodi and Diana on the yacht became instantly iconic. “The Crown” seems to claim that Mohammed Al Fayed made the call in order to push the relationship forward in his quest to become part of the Royal Family, but Tina Brown — who literally wrote the book on Diana, “The Diana Chronicles,” believes that Diana herself hired him in order to make her ex-boyfriend, heart surgeon Hasnat Khan (whom “The Crown” viewers saw in Season 5), jealous.
Did Dodi propose to Diana?
(Likely) fiction! Who knows what happened between the two in private leading up to the car crash, but though a large ring was found among Dodi’s belongings, there is no hard evidence that he proposed to Diana. At the inquest, Paul Burrell, Diana’s butler and confidante, implied that Diana only viewed Dodi as a rebound from Khan.
Did Prince William run away when he found out the news about Diana?
Fiction! Even accepting that William has said that he found “comfort” in the Scottish countryside at Balmoral in the days after his mother’s death, the notion that a member of the royal family could go missing for “14 hours” is hard to swallow. Princess Margaret would have had a very different life if that was a possibility.
Did Queen Elizabeth II make an emotional* speech in the aftermath of Diana’s death?
Fact! She sure did! Initially announced to be pre-recorded, Elizabeth took to the balcony of Buckingham Palace to speak live — and the moment marked only the second time during her reign that she made a special address to the nation.
*Emotional for Queen Elizabeth II
Did Diana appear as a ghost to her ex-husband and former mother-in-law?
Fiction! We’re going to make a wild guess that, even if ghosts do exist, Diana might have had other people more top of mind to comfort.
Best of IndieWire
Where to Watch This Week's New Movies, from 'The Hunger Games' and 'Saltburn' to 'May December'
The Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in November, from 'Fair Play' to 'Emily the Criminal'
Sofia Coppola Movies, Ranked: 'Priscilla,' 'The Virgin Suicides,' 'Marie Antoinette,' and More
Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
