What Kristen Stewart’s ‘Spencer’ Movie Got Totally Wrong About Princess Diana and the Royal Family’s Christmas Together

The movie Spencer hit theaters in the U.S. and U.Ok. on Nov. 5, 2021. With its premiere got here not solely Oscar buzz for Kristen Stewart, who portrayed Princess Diana in what was the finest efficiency of her profession, but additionally renewed curiosity in the late royal. Whereas Stewart’s transformation into the Princess of Wales was spot on, many have questioned what components of the film are correct and that are completely made up.

Right here’s a rundown of what’s reality and fiction in the movie together with what Princess Diana’s former chef Darren McGrady, who was portrayed in Spencer by actor Sean Harris, mentioned wasn’t true about his relationship with Diana.

Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana | Neon

What ‘Spencer’ obtained proper

Spencer by no means claimed to be an correct portrayal of Princess Diana’s life and even the three days wherein its set over Christmas at Sandringham. In actual fact, the film opens with the phrases: “A fable based on a true tragedy.” Nonetheless, since its launch audiences have been questioning what’s actual and what’s not.

An early scene in Spencer reveals members of the royal household being weighed after they arrive at the Sandringham Home in Norfolk, one thing Diana is reluctant to do in the movie. The reality is that sure the royals are weighed throughout the vacation however it isn’t precisely the way it’s proven in the film. Every member of the family will get on the scale earlier than and after Christmas dinner. The custom dates again to King Edward VII’s reign. The previous monarch was reportedly involved that not everybody was consuming sufficient on the vacation so hopping on the scale turned one thing that was finished to make sure all of them had been.

The Boxing Day hunt, which Prince William and Prince Harry took half in, can also be an actual royal custom. Diana wasn’t a fan of searching however there’s no proof that she dramatically stepped in as seen in the movie to attempt and cease it. It’s additionally true that relations arrive to the Sandringham property at totally different occasions but it’s by no means been reported that Diana was late in 1991 or every other 12 months she spent there.

'Spencer' star Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana at Sandringham wearing a bright yellow costume in a foggy landscape
Kristen Stewart in a scene from ‘Spencer’ | Neon

What characters had been completely made up

One thing Spencer obtained improper about Princess Diana was her look in 1991. Whereas Stewart resembles some pictures all of us have of the princess in our minds, Diana’s hair was a lot shorter than Stewart’s was in the film as she had it minimize above her ears at the moment.

Diana did reside at Park Home on the Sandringham property earlier than her household moved to Althorp in 1975. However the scene of the princess escaping the royals’ Sandringham Home and going into the darkish shuttered property is fake as a result of in the ’80s the residence turned a resort for folks with disabilities run by the Leonard Cheshire Basis.

Her coiffure made be a tiny element and deserted residence weren’t the solely false particulars, two characters we frequently see and hear from in the film are completely made up. Main Alistair Gregory (Timothy Spall), who watches over Diana like a hawk in the movie, is a fictional character as was Diana’s dresser and confidant Maggie (Sally Hawkins). Each characters are key figures in the plot and could possibly be consultant of some folks current at Sandringham again then however Spencer screenwriter Steven Knight has said that neither are based mostly on any particular folks.

Princess Diana pictured in a plaid coat during a visit to Cornwall in 1991
Princess Diana pictured in a plaid coat throughout a go to to Cornwall in 1991 | Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Photos

What Diana’s former chef mentioned was inaccurate

A personality who was not made up was former royal chef Darren McGrady (Sean Harris). McGrady spoke about being portrayed in Spencer and mentioned he had “goosebumps” watching it however famous that there have been two main inaccuracies.

In keeping with him the Sandringham Property solely had 5 cooks, not the a lot bigger crew proven cooking away in the movie.

He additionally revealed that Diana would come right down to the kitchen and they might discuss a lot of topics. Nonetheless, he by no means referred to her the method his character did in the movie saying: “Though Sean Harris called her ‘Diana,’ I respected her title far too much for that — I always called her Your Royal Highness.”

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