The film Spencer stars Kristen Stewart as Diana and follows the princess as she finally decides to split from Charles during a festive season with the Royal Family at Sandringham. Twilight actress Kristen called the movie “a dive inside an emotional imagining of who Diana was at a pivotal turning point in her life”. The film follows in the footsteps of Netflix show The Crown in that real and fictional elements are being mixed.
As well as Diana’s unhappiness, the Queen’s decision to never abdicate and allow Charles to be king in her lifetime is sure to feature.
The 1991 speech was seen as a huge blow to Charles after speculation that Her Majesty would be stepping down after the then-approaching 40th anniversary of her accession.
She told Britain and the Commonwealth of the sense of “obligation” and “loyalty” that would not let her release the reins of the monarchy.
She added: “Next February will see the 40th anniversary of my father’s death and of my accession. Over the years I have tried to follow my father’s example and to serve you the best I can.
“With your help, and the love and support of my family, I shall try to serve you in the years to come.”
Speaking at the time, a royal insider said the speech was intended to set rumours straight.
They said: “She wanted to put something in her broadcast to make it clear she will be there for many years to come.”
Spencer is set during the roughest patch of Charles and Diana’s marriage.
But while Charles had withered under the strain, Diana had grown. Throughout that Sandringham holiday, the princess was busily planning a new life for herself away from the royals and secretly plotting the end of her marriage.
One source explained: “That Christmas was the moment when Diana decided things could not go on as they had been. She was determined to find an escape hatch.
“At the time she was in that pressure-cooker Sandringham atmosphere and she was seething with revenge and frustration at striving to find her way out.
“All around her were her enemies, and she couldn’t trust a single soul. Imagine what that does to you. Family life is going on around you and you’re the only one who knows you’re about to torpedo it.”
It had been a wretched year for the royal couple.
Just before the fateful Sandringham Christmas, Diana had scored her first victory for a new life out from under the Royal Family’s shadow.
In September, Buckingham Palace had given approval for a solo official visit to Pakistan, which launched her on the world stage as a star in her own right, not simply Charles’s wife.
Spencer is expected to be released later this year.
