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Saturday, 24 March 2007

Programme to document Diana's last day

PAUL REVOIR
UK Daily Mail

ITV has sparked controversy after revealing it is to screen never before seen paparazzi shots from the evening of Diana's death.

The broadcaster is facing accusations that it is exploiting the death of the Princess with the new programme, which claims to tell the 'definitive story' of Diana's final hours.

ITV decision to run the paparazzi pictures from the night of her death is also set anger Diana's sons Prince William and Price Harry, who have previously called on their mother to be left to rest in peace.

Diana's Last Day, which will feature pictures taken by some of the cameramen who shadowed the princess just before the Paris crash, will heighten sensitivity around the events of that night. It runs as part of programming marking the tenth anniversary of her death.

ITV has said that the programme will chart her final hours "using pictures taken by some of the cameramen who shadowed her on that fateful day".

The controversial programme will also feature interviews with the paparazzi who trailed her, and will document the last 24 hours of her life.

But the broadcaster is insisting it will not be showing any images of her final moments in the Paris tunnel.

ITV's director of television Simon Shaps said of pictures in the documentary: "We don't think any of those are intrusive.

"We've thought very carefully about what we're going to show. There's clearly going to be huge public interest in Diana 10 years after the crash.

"We're telling the story of Diana's last day with some original material, in what will be a good way to show what happened."

He said the broadcaster had thought 'very carefully' about the sensitivities of the Royal Family.
A Clarence House spokesman said it would not comment on the programme until it knows what photos were being used.

The documentary is part of a range of programmes commissioned to pay tribute to the late princess.

Diana Unseen, which promises to 'reveal a side to the princess never seen before', will feature unseen footage of Diana from the public's home videos.

ITV will also broadcast The Queen, the hit film starring Oscar-winning Helen Mirren about the Royal Family's response to Diana's death.

Channel Five is marking the anniversary with a £2 million TV docudrama about the final weeks of the princess.