Vanity Fair Delves Into the Ghostly Presence of Diana in ‘The Crown’

Article by Chris Murphy

The much-debated "Ghost Diana" has finally made her appearance in popular Netflix series, The Crown. Episode four of the final season, fittingly titled "Aftermath," follows the fallout from Princess Diana's tragic death. The episode was masterfully directed by Christian Schwochow, who previously guest starred on the Still Watching podcast to discuss the challenges and considerations of portraying such a sensitive, historic moment on screen.

Schwochow, hailing from Germany, was also at the helm of the episode covering Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s divorce in the series' fifth season. This particular episode nurtured a special collaboration between him and Elizabeth Debicki - the actress portraying Princess Diana. "Working on The Crown was an extremely unique artistic experience for both myself and Elizabeth," admits Schwochow.

Diana's journey culminates with her death in the final season of The Crown. In an unexpected creative decision, the series' creator, Peter Morgan, decided not to visually depict Diana’s car crash or her dead body, staying true to the integrity of the moment. Elisabeth Debicki was still present on set for these scenes, however, contributing to the emotional depth of Dominic West’s portrayal of Prince Charles in that poignant moment.

“The camera captures Charles's reaction to Diana's lifeless body in the morgue, a sight unseen by the audience,” Schwochow explains, “Elizabeth Debicki was present to facilitate a more genuine portrayal of Charles’ reaction. We've strived to narrate this story in the most respectful manner possible."

Respecting the delicate gravity of the situation, the moments when the royal family learns of Diana’s death are filmed with minimal dialogue and careful restraint, states Schwochow. “In deference to the family’s grief, we chose intentionally to keep our distance, focusing on the expression of shock rather than the drama."

Post her demise, Princess Diana is seen as a spectral presence to her ex-husband, Prince Charles, and his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Reportedly, this creative choice has been considered hurtful by some members of the royal family, although Schwochow defends the decision. He admits they had various discussions regarding these scenes. Still, Schwochow underscores that Diana’s presence was more a lingering memory than a ghostly apparition. “Visually, these scenes were designed to be as un-ghostly as possible,” he specifies.

Working to create an authentic and realistic representation of Diana, he states, "No exaggerated depictions or larger-than-life portrayals. We treated her character in all normalcy". While he had initial reservations about these scenes, he notes, “The moment we were filming, we all felt this was the right decision.”

A complete analysis of “Aftermath," and overall commentary on season six, including the character of Diana, are available on the Still Watching podcast.