The Crown Season Six is currently gripping fans of the show, as it deals with the harrowing lead up and aftermath of the tragic passing of Princess Diana.
While the show depicts real-life events and people, it is ultimately a work of fiction, so watchers are often left wondering what aspects of the show are based in truth and what is complete invention.
In the new series, Prince William is shown to go missing from Balmoral Castle for a number of hours following the passing of him mother as he deals with his grief.
Read more: The Crown episode one review: Despite the stellar cast, the brilliance falls short
Some fans were left wondering if this element of the show could be true and if Prince William really did run off in 1997.
It would not be unusual for teenagers to require space while dealing with something so difficult, however it would also be unlikely that the monarchy would really lose track entirely of the young Prince for the 14 hour span depicted in the show.
While there are no statements from Buckingham Palace or any of the royals themselves to confirm it, one popular book on Diana's life suggests there may be a semblance of truth to it - even if it was just that the young royal wanted to walk the grounds to clear his head.
In The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown, a 2007 biographic that chronicles the life and death of Diana, Princess of Wales, she writes that Prince Philip mentioned something of the sort during a call planning the funeral.
Town and Country reports that the books quotes him to say: "Our worry at the moment is William.
He's run away up the hill, and we can’t find him. That’s the only thing we're concerned with at the moment."
Prince William has also spoken of seeking refuge in time outdoors in the wake of his mother's passing.
During the opening speech of the church's General Assembly in Edinburgh in 2021, he said:
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."
It's possible that this revelation was what inspired the storyline.
Get the latest RSVP headlines straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this LINK to receive your daily dose of RSVP Live content. We also treat our community members to wonderful competitions, promotions, along with great stories. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice
