Princess Diana's warzone charity snubbed in next series of The Crown
Princess Diana’s warzone charity is snubbed in next series of The Crown as Netflix use logo of another conflict group
A warzone charity supported by Princess Diana has been snubbed in final series of The Crown.
In one of the last and most defining acts of her life, the princess was seen walking through a minefield in Angola to promote the vital work of the Halo Trust.
Now the British organisation has been snubbed by Netflix in its recreation of the visit – by replacing its name with a New Zealand-based group.
Images released last week showed actress Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Diana in season six of the royal drama, re-enacting the Princess of Wales’ walk across a minefield cleared by the Trust in 1997.
Debicki is seen wearing an exact replica of Diana’s outfit, which meticulously mimics her chunky gold earrings, blown-out hairstyle and white shirt.
In one of the last and most defining acts of her life, the princess was seen walking through a minefield in Angola (pictured) to promote the vital work of the Halo Trust
Elizabeth Debicki is seen wearing an exact replica of Diana’s outfit (pictured), which meticulously mimics her chunky gold earrings, blown-out hairstyle and white shirt
But The Crown’s creators changed one key detail: replacing the Halo Trust branded protective vest with a badge of a charity called ‘ReliefAid’.
Staff at the Halo Trust, which clears deadly landmines left in conflict zones, were understood to be baffled by the snub.
READ MORE: The Crown’s Elizabeth Debicki calls portraying Princess Diana a ‘unique challenge’ in the final days of her life ahead of premiere of new season
‘We weren’t asked or consulted about the scene. Obviously, we would have been delighted had our logo been on the PPE, which is what really happened,’ said a spokesperson for the charity.
They added: ‘Princess Diana’s advocacy helped to get the 1997 landmine ban over the line and that is an incredibly powerful legacy.’
Insiders at the Halo Trust felt it was ‘a shame’ that Netflix bosses chose not to include them, as the series could have promoted the charity to The Crown’s global audience of 73 million viewers.
The trust relies on donations for its life-saving work across six continents to clear landmines and explosives.
Mail readers donated £2.1million to The Halo Trust through the Mail Force campaign following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which helped finance its work to clear minefields in regions previously besieged by Kremlin forces.
The Crown’s snub also stirred confusion 11,000 miles away in New Zealand, home to a real humanitarian organisation called ReliefAid that provides emergency aid to conflict zones.
‘Netflix did not contact us and ReliefAid did not agree for Netflix to use our name,’ said Anne Bulley, ReliefAid’s communications director.
Now the British organisation has been snubbed by Netflix in its recreation of the visit – by replacing its name with a New Zealand-based group
She added: ‘We were founded in 2015, have never worked in Angola and do not do mine clearance.
‘Perhaps Netflix would like to make a donation to The Halo Trust and ReliefAid to recognise their misrepresentation of both our organisations and the vital work we do to help victims of conflict.
‘I suspect the use of the name is a coincidence, because to my knowledge we are the only registered charity using the name ReliefAid.’
The final series, which airs from next month, will explore the events surrounding Diana’s tragic death in Paris in 1997, and will close on the royal wedding of Charles and Camilla.
The controversial series has already made headlines with news that Princess Diana will appear as a ghost for an emotional reconciliation with a grieving Prince Charles.
Royal insiders suggested the latest instalment will likely be considered in poor taste, particularly as ‘deeply painful memories for members of the family are reduced to sensationalism’.
A spokesman for Netflix declined to comment.
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