Princess Diana named as the inspiration behind Wonder Woman's compassionate and relatable superhero

Princess Diana has been hailed as the inspiration behind Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman performance, proving yet again the lasting impact of the late royal's legacy. 

• Princess Diana has been named as the inspiration behind Wonder Woman's Diana Prince.
• Gal Gadot revealed she emulated Princess Diana's compassion and empathy when playing the iconic superhero. 
• In other royal news, Prince William and Prince Harry will be ‘cleverly’ separated at Prince Philip’s funeral by royal relative.
  

Forget crowns – Princess Diana deserved a cape. 

At least that's what Gal Gadot thinks, Wonder Woman's latest star. 

The Israeli actress, who played Diana Prince in the superhero franchise, revealed that she took notes from the beloved princess to get into character in a recent interview. 

Speaking to Vanity Fair, Gal explained that she decided to emulate Lady Di's persona for the role after watching a royal documentary. "There was a part where they say that she was full of compassion and that she always cared for the people," she said. 

This one revelation sent alarm bells ringing for the actress, alerting her to the way she wanted to portray the character. 

"That was like ding ding ding ding ding," she said. "That should be the Wonder Woman that we have." 

Gal was adamant about depicting Diana Prince as strong and powerful, without compromising her humanity. To find this balance, she looked to Princess Diana, who was often praised for her natural rapport with the public. 

"I wanted to portray a character that people will be inspired by but also that people will be able to relate to." 

The royal inspiration seems to have worked its magic. The 2017 Wonder Woman film received widespread acclaim, with many critics lauding Gal's performance as Diana Prince. 

Princess Diana was frequently referred to as the 'People's Princess' before her death in 1997. She was far more attuned to the real world than many of her royal counterparts, having worked in a nursery school and lived with flatmates before her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981. Often spotted cycling around London on the 'shame bike' she was eventually forced to sell, many regular folks felt they could identify with her youthful, carefree nature. 

After she married Prince Charles, she continued to distinguish herself as different from her in-laws. She was celebrated for actively involving herself in society through activism and charity during a time when the Royal Family observed a careful distance from the public. Her death, which was caused by a car crash, was met with an outpouring of national and global grief, with countless people feeling personally affected by the tragic loss.