FILMING of scenes leading up to Princess Diana’s tragic car crash have reportedly taken place in Barcelona this weekend.
The Catalan city’s Francesc Macia Square was given a French makeover ahead of Netflix’s return to Barcelona for filming of the sixth series of The Crown.
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Filming was halted in Barcelona on September 9 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Local press reported in the run-up to the weekend and yesterday/on Saturday that series chiefs would be recording the events leading up to Diana’s ill-fated 1997 trip to Paris when she died in an underpass crash.
Respected Catalan daily El Periodico said on Saturday: “The scene filmed is the fatal car accident Lady Di suffered.”
Catalan online news website NacioDigital, claiming the September 9 suspension had led to a change of venue from an elegant avenue of gardens called the Jardinets de Gracia, said: “The producers of the series wanted to carry out one of the most critical moments in the history of the British monarchy in the Jardinets de Gracia, the death of Diana in a traffic accident.
“This Friday and Saturday filming took place in Francesc Macia Square.”
Adding a Catalan TV and radio reporter had been able to get closer to the set of The Crown to give more details of filming, it added: “In this legendary city square they shoot the critical moment when the paparazzi chase Lady Di’s car through Paris.”
Netflix insisted recently: “The exact moment of the crash impact will not be shown.”
Last week it was forced to defend the series after former British PM John Major lashed out at a storyline showing King Charles plotting to oust his mum.
Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench has also criticised The Crown and expressed fears it will present “an inaccurate and hurtful account of history.”
Recent reports had pointed to Paris being used as a filming base to recreate Diana’s final hours. Majorca has been used recently to film several scenes.
It comes as the show, starring Elizabeth Debicki as Di, faces increasing anger over its wild plot lines, with claims of insensitivity so soon after the Queen’s death.
The move has sparked a backlash from crew members working on The Crown who fear “a line has been crossed”.
Bosses are also under fire over soon-to-be aired scenes suggesting Prince Philip had an affair with a female friend.