Did Prince William go missing for 14 hours when Princess Diana died?
In The Crown, Prince William was shown to go missing for several hours following the death of Princess Diana - but was this accurate?
Season Six of The Crown has been released on Netflix and fans are loving this brand new series. But some are questioning, did Prince William go missing for 14 hours when Princess Diana died?
In the new season of The Crown, Princess Diana's tragic death was depicted in the final moments of the third episode. The fourth episode, titled 'Aftermath' focused on the fallout following her death, particularly how (the then) Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry dealt with this news.
In one scene, Prince Charles was told "Sir, Prince William is not in his room, and no one can find him." A search party then begins after Prince Harry discovers that his coar is missing from the hook and he must have gone outside. Princess Anne, Prince Charles and many members of the Royal Family then set off in Land Rovers to search the grounds around Balmoral.
Despite having dogs and several people searching for the Prince, none are successful and return to the castle without the Prince. It's not until hours later (or 14 as stated by the Queen played by Imelda Staunton - 'Fourteen hours that poor boy was gone') when the Prince returns, completely drenched from the rain. In the scene, William looks distraught and despondent when he returns from the castle and shrugs off Charles as he tries to hug him upon his return.
But did this really happen? Did Prince William go missing for 14 hours when Princess Diana died? Or was this an invented story from the show creators to add to the narrative?
In a documentary called Diana, 7 Days, Prince William spoke about the days at Balmoral Castle following her death. "I remember just feeling completely numb, disorientated, dizzy," William said. "You feel very, very confused. And you keep asking yourself, 'Why me?' All the time, 'Why? What have I done? Why? Why has this happened to us?'"
In 2021, per the Standard, the Prince spoke about finding solace in the 'Scottish Outdoors' following his mother's sudden death. During an emotional speech at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Prince said, "I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning and in the dark days of grief that followed I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors. As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep."
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
So by his own words, the Prince of Wales spoke about being disoriented and finding solace in the Scottish outdoors following his mother's death. This could mean that the storyline about his disappearance isn't totally inconceivable and would make sense for anyone going through such a traumatic life event at such a young age. However, it does seem that Netflix may have slightly exaggerated events for their narrative.
Laura is the Entertainment Editor for woman&home who primarily covers television, film, and celebrity news. Laura loves drinking and eating and can often be found trying to get reservations at London's trendiest restaurants. When she's not wining and dining, Laura can also be found travelling, baking, and hiking with her dog.
-
Kate Garraway spreads Christmas joy with rainbow checkerboard dress and pink heels
Kate Garraway's patterned jumper dress reminded us that fabulous festive outfits can also be so cosy and comfortable
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Drew Barrymore says she ‘struggled so much’ mentally with perimenopause, revealing her unexpected symptoms
Drew Barrymore has opened up about the mental toll perimenopause has taken on her, explaining the barrage of symptoms she's been hit with since entering this phase.
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
The royal Christmas tradition that Prince William and Kate Middleton could change when they’re King and Queen
The Prince and Princess of Wales might change 'a lot' of royal customs one day and a royal expert suspects this will be one of them
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Princess Charlotte in 'floods of tears' after Prince William made appearance change - but he convinced her it was 'going to be ok'
The Prince of Wales has explained how Princess Charlotte reacted when he first introduced a new change to his appearance
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Prince William shares new update on Kate Middleton since she 'completed' cancer treatment
The Prince of Wales shared an insight into the Princess's wellbeing after he travelled to Cape Town for the 2025 Earthshot Prize Awards
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton and Prince William's divisive sleeping set-up at Adelaide Cottage won’t be for everyone
The Prince of Wales has reportedly revealed his and Kate's sleeping set-up and they've made a decision that might divide the crowd
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton’s favourite dessert is a decadent classic that she enjoys at cosy Berkshire pub
The Princess of Wales is said to love an indulgent British dessert and Prince William seemingly just confirmed it's her 'favourite'
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Prince William's excuse to get out of 'competitive' game night with Middletons
Prince William is reportedly not a big fan of the Middleton family's 'favourite' fast-paced card game and he used this excuse to get out of it
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate and William thought Prince George would 'freak out' trying their 'adored' hobby - but he loves it!
The Prince and Princess of Wales have introduced their eldest son to an adventurous hobby and Prince George has become a big fan
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Prince Louis’ hilarious habit revealed by Prince William - and Princess Charlotte probably isn’t a huge fan
Prince William shared a relatable confession about Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte during his visit to a school in Llanelli
By Emma Shacklock Published