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An upcoming Netflix documentary based on unheard audio recordings of the late Princess of Wales could prompt a new rivalry over who is the 'new Diana', royal experts have claimed.
Paul Burrell, 62, has claimed that the streaming giant's sequel to the 2017 documentary Diana: In Her Own Words will be 'welcomed' by Meghan Markle, because it throws her late mother-in-law into the spotlight again, and creates the opportunity to compare the two women.
Speaking to Closer magazine, he said: 'I think Meghan may see Diana as a role model, and feel she can relate to her. So she'll welcome more insight into Diana's life and for them to be compared.'
However, on the other side of the Atlantic, the Duchess of Cambridge's growing confidence means that she is feeling more ready than ever to step into her late royal's shoes.
Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe told OK! that the Duchess of Cambridge is stepping out of Prince William's shadows and the public are ready to 'adore her like Diana.'
'The last year has given her confidence and proved she is a strong, reliable figure able to take on engagements on her own,' he explained. 'Kate is now finally starting to fill the shoes she's been wearing for a decade.'
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Due to air next year, to mark the 25th anniversary of Diana's death, the Netflix documentary will be a follow up to Diana: In Her Own Words, released in 2017, and will reportedly feature unaired audio and video of Diana used by Andrew Morton to write her biography in 1992.
Paul Burrell, who served as a footman for the Queen and later butler to Diana for 10 years until her death in 1997, commented that Netflix has 'capitalised' on a demand for royal scandal.
And he said that it could give rise to tensions between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who have a deal with Netflix worth a reported £100 million.
'If Harry's already feeling torn and uncomfortable about his recent actions, this will no doubt cement those feelings,' he said.
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'It's very awkward as I think Meghan may see Diana as a role model, and feel she can relate to her. So she'll welcome more insight into Diana's life and for them to be compared.
'But those differing feelings could create a divide between her and Harry. It could even drive them apart.'
Speaking to OK! Magazine he said that following the tragic death of Prince Philip, aged 99, there has been a change in Kate and Prince William's behaviour which has allowed 'more of their personal side to come across.'
He went on to say that it could 'mark the start of a new era' for the mother-of-three, adding: 'Kate is really coming into her own.'
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The royal expert also claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview marked a 'sea change' from both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The comments come as the Daily Mail recently revealed that sequel to the worldwide hit Diana: In Her Own Words will be released to mark the 25th anniversary of the Princess's death next year.
American film maker Tom Jennings says he has six more hours of unheard recordings made by Diana that were made for use for her biographer Andrew Morton in his 1992 book Diana: Her True Story.
He commented: 'There are seven hours of tapes that Diana made for Morton. We wound up in our two-hour film only using about one hour of them.
'We're talking quite a bit about doing something for next year, which is the 25th anniversary of Diana's passing and also coincidentally it's the 30th anniversary of Andrew Morton's book.
'There will be renewed interest, and season five of The Crown will be coming out.'
Diana: In Her Own Words was first screened amid much controversy in 2017. It was re-released last year by Netflix, which used it to justify controversial scenes in The Crown.
The news of the upcoming sequel comes just two months after Harry and Meghan opened up about their mental health struggles during their bombshell interview with Oprah which first aired on CBS on March 7, then on ITV one day later.
During that interview, Meghan claimed she had suffered from suicidal thoughts after being plunged into royal life and that palace staff had ignored her pleas for help after taking away her keys and passport.
The couple have signed a multi-million pound deal with Netflix and it was announced last month that their first TV series with the network will be a documentary series about the Invictus Games.
Harry and Meghan have been living in an £10million mansion in Montecito, California since last summer after they both quit as senior royals.
The couple, who have also signed a multi-million-pound deal with Spotify, are expecting a baby girl while their son Archie recently turned two.
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