The story of The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana
In the summer following her divorce from Prince Charles, Princess Diana of Wales stepped into the public eye with a new romantic companion: Dodi Al-Fayed, the wealthy Egyptian businessman and son of Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed. What unfolded over the following weeks—photographed relentlessly, debated endlessly, and ultimately cut short by tragedy—remains one of the most contested love stories in modern royal history. The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana sets out to answer a deceptively simple question: was this genuine romance, or calculated image rehabilitation? The documentary doesn't pretend to offer a definitive answer. Instead, it assembles testimony from those who were actually there—Diana's friends, her security detail, royal insiders—to sketch the contours of a relationship that was shrouded in mystery from the start.
Behind the making of The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana
Director Finlay Bald constructed this 42-minute investigation with a deliberate restraint that befits its subject matter. Rather than sensationalize, Bald brings together a carefully curated lineup of witnesses: Charles Spencer (Diana's brother, who'd understand her state of mind better than almost anyone), Ingrid Seward (royal biographer and contemporary observer), Paul Burrell (Diana's butler and one of her most trusted confidants), Hasnat Khan (the Pakistani heart surgeon Diana had dated before Dodi), and former royal protection officers including Ken Wharfe. This isn't a glossy dramatization—there's no reconstructed scenes or breathless narration. What you get instead is testimony, memory, and the kind of on-camera reflection that only comes when people are willing to sit down years later and actually think about what they witnessed.
The documentary's production choices matter. Shot in 2022, a quarter-century after Diana's death, it captures these voices at a moment when many of them have grown comfortable speaking more candidly about events they were once constrained by protocol or grief to discuss. Movie OTT tracks documentaries across multiple platforms, and this one's lean runtime—under 45 minutes—makes it accessible for viewers who want substance without the commitment of a full-length feature. The film doesn't pursue awards-season accolades; it's interested in clarity, not prestige. That said, the IMDb rating of 3.6/10 suggests audiences have been divided on whether the documentary delivers on its promise of untold truth, or whether it simply rehearses familiar speculation.
What makes The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana stand out
Honestly, what's striking about this documentary is how it resists the urge to sentimentalize. You'd expect—given the subject—a lot of swooning about a fairy-tale romance cut short. Instead, what emerges is something more complicated: a portrait of a woman who was grieving, newly single, and perhaps vulnerable to attention from someone who offered glamour and escape. The testimonies don't align perfectly. Hasnat Khan's perspective on Diana's emotional state differs from Paul Burrell's; their readings of her intentions with Dodi don't quite match. That friction—that refusal to smooth everything into a neat narrative—is actually the documentary's greatest strength, even if it frustrates viewers looking for closure.
The thing nobody mentions when they talk about Diana's romantic life is how exhausting it must have been to be constantly interpreted, constantly photographed, constantly defended or attacked depending on the day's headlines. This film at least acknowledges that context. When Ken Wharfe or other security figures speak, they're not just recounting dates and locations—they're describing the pressure cooker Diana inhabited. Charles Spencer's reflections carry particular weight; he knew his sister, and his willingness to discuss both her vulnerabilities and her resilience grounds the entire conversation. It's not a perfect documentary, and the mixed reception reflects genuine disagreement about whether these voices actually illuminate the relationship or simply add more layers of speculation. But it doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. That's rare.
Where to stream The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana online
You can watch The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana on Prime Video, where it's currently available for streaming. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page will show you the most up-to-date availability across all platforms. If you're a Prime subscriber, it's worth noting that documentaries of this caliber—intimate, conversational, focused on a specific historical moment—tend to get buried in the algorithm. Movie OTT's streaming guides help readers surface these kinds of niche but substantive titles that might otherwise disappear beneath trending content. At 42 minutes, it's the kind of film you can fit into an evening without it demanding a major time commitment, though you'll probably want to sit with it for a bit afterward.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana?
Finlay Bald directed the documentary, which premiered in 2022. Bald's approach is notably restrained, focusing on testimony rather than reconstruction or dramatic flourish.
Q: Is The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana based on a true story?
Yes. The documentary examines the actual relationship between Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed in the summer before their deaths in a car crash in Paris in 1997. It draws on testimony from people who knew Diana personally.
Q: What's the runtime of The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana?
The documentary runs 42 minutes, making it a relatively brief but focused examination of its subject.
Q: Who appears in The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana?
The film features testimony from Charles Spencer (Diana's brother), Paul Burrell (her butler), Ingrid Seward (royal biographer), Hasnat Khan (a former partner of Diana's), Ken Wharfe (former royal protection officer), and others close to the story.
Q: Where can I watch The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana?
The documentary is currently available on Prime Video. Check the "Where to Watch" widget for the most current streaming availability across platforms.
Final thoughts on The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana
This documentary isn't for everyone. If you're looking for a tidy resolution to questions about Diana's final weeks—a definitive answer about whether she was truly in love—you won't find it here. What you will find is something more honest: a collection of people who were there, offering their perspectives, contradictions and all. The British royal family has always been a subject of obsessive public interest, and Diana's life and death especially so. The Untold Truth: Dodi and Diana doesn't pretend to settle the matter. It simply lets the witnesses speak, and trusts viewers to draw their own conclusions. For anyone genuinely curious about this moment in royal history—not the tabloid version, but the human one—it's worth your 42 minutes.
