Is Disney Throwing Shade at the British Royal Family?
Key Highlights :
The recent release of the live-action remake of Disney's classic, The Little Mermaid, has left fans speculating that the movie may have included a subtle "dig" at the British royal family. In one particular scene, Prince Eric is trying to guess mermaid Ariel's name after she sacrificed her voice to grow human legs. His first guess is Diana and his second is Catherine, leading some fans to believe that 'Diana' could be in reference to the late Princess Diana. After he guesses Catherine, Ariel appears to display a disgusted reaction and he adds, "OK, definitely not Catherine".
This has led some fans to believe that Disney and director Rob Marshall were throwing shade at the British royals, with one tweet saying, "100 per cent convinced The Little Mermaid is team Meghan and throwing shade at the British royals". However, director Rob Marshall has since responded to the speculation, saying the reports were "insane" and explaining that he has always referred to the princess as 'Kate' and not 'Catherine'. He went on to explain that the names Diana and Catherine were chosen because they sounded like "interesting, weird different names" compared to the "eternal names" found in the fictional underwater kingdom, such as Ariel, Indira, Caspia and Athena.
The speculation follows Meghan Markle's comments about how she related to the Little Mermaid when she stepped back as a senior working royal of the British royal family in 2020. "I was sitting in Nottingham Cottage and The Little Mermaid came on," she told Oprah Winfrey in 2021. "And I thought, 'Oh my god, she falls in love with the prince, and because of that she has to lose her voice. But by the end she gets her voice back', she smirks - implying that she too got her voice back after arriving in the US and starting a new life with Prince Harry.
Whether or not Disney was throwing shade at the British royal family is yet to be confirmed, but it certainly has left fans speculating and debating the meaning behind the particular scene. It is clear however, that the movie has resonated with many viewers, especially those who have experienced a similar journey to that of Ariel's.
