Timing of Diana film 'pure coincidence'

Diana, Princess of Wales

TVNZ says it was pure coincidence that a film exploring the death of Princess Diana was screened on the same night her son, Prince William, arrived in the country.

The broadcaster was making no apologies for what some readers who complained to the Herald described as the grossly insensitive and tactless broadcast of the historical drama The Queen, starring Helen Mirren.

The drama explores the aftermath and the way the monarchy handled the death of the "people's princess" in 1997.

It was shown as the prince would have been winding down after a hangi at Government House in Auckland. The Sunday Theatre drama began at 8.30pm.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said the broadcaster had also received complaints about the drama.

"The decision to put it on Sunday Theatre was made weeks and weeks ago," she said.

"It was a pure coincidence. Our view is that the chance of Prince William watching the television or bumping into it in any way, shape or form on his first night in the country, given his schedule, would have been remote in the extreme.

"We've had a handful of complaints and people have emailed us expressing discomfort.

"We accept people's opinions on this. Nobody in TVNZ cross-checks our schedule with royal travel itineraries and there's no reason why they should."

Ms Richards said the film had been around for several years and had been prominently circulated around the world, including Britain.

"To have pulled the programme at the last minute would have drawn unnecessary attention to it."