Fans of “The Crown” have been anxiously waiting by their TVs for part one of the Netflix series’ sixth and final season.
Viewers are particularly curious to see how the royal drama handles Princess Diana’s tragic death, which occurred in 1997 when she was 36.
The end of the third episode portrays the Paris car crash in which the Princess of Wales lost her life alongside her Egyptian billionaire boyfriend, Dodi Fayed.
Paul Burrell, who once served as the princess’ butler, slammed the portrayal, saying the show “has gone too far” in recreating the tragic accident.
“It still feels macabre to show the vehicle in which she died,” the 65-year-old told the Mirror on Thursday.
“I find the whole scene of Diana’s death portrayed in a fictional TV show to be grotesque,” he added.
“William and Harry do not want to witness that again. It’s a nightmare which keeps revolving and coming back to haunt them. So they don’t want to see it. I’m surprised they’re actually including it.”
The “A Royal Duty” memoirist also appeared on ITV’s “Lorraine” show, where he reiterated his disgust over the Netflix series.
“I can’t watch that — it’s too graphic and too much. It’s going to upset a lot of people. I find this very difficult, this series. I don’t know if I can watch it,” he said.
“I am going to be critical. I do think the Princess was misunderstood. The Diana I knew was a fighter and she fought for her boys,” Burrell added.
He then explained he believes the late Queen Elizabeth was “misrepresented” in the series.
“I knew the Queen very well and I know she would not want to be portrayed like that,” he said. “She was a warm, kind, loving, gran, and she was the beating heart of our nation.”
Burrell was a footman for the monarch before working for Diana. He was her butler for 10 years until her death.
Warning: spoilers ahead for Season 6 of “The Crown.”
In Season 6 of “The Crown,” Diana (portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki) and Fayed (Khalid Abdalla), are shown getting into a car outside the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
This corresponds to real life, as the two were last spotted in the vehicle with their security guard Henri Paul before all three passengers died.
During the scene, Diana asks Frenchman Paul if it’s safe to leave.
“No one will see us leave, trust me,” Paul states, adding two other employees will drive in front of them to keep them safe.
Photographers then rush the couple as they stroll into a black Mercedes-Benz outside the hotel.
The driver then inquires if Diana is OK as they drive away.
The vehicle zooms through Paris, entering the Pont de l’Alma tunnel at an accelerated speed. And, in a flash, tragedy strikes.
The crash itself is not shown, but a loud sound is heard.