Who is new ITV drama The Lady really for? It’s certainly not for those impacted by this royal-adjacent story

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Justine Picardie’s new book explores a century of royal fashion, revealing how the House of Windsor has cleverly used clothing to present a certain image while also keeping things private. Picardie shares a story from after a picnic at Balmoral, where the late Queen surprisingly put on rubber gloves and began clearing the table herself.

While it’s not entirely surprising to learn about the royal family connecting with everyday life – we already knew the monarch liked Tupperware – this offers a welcome distraction from the recent, more troubling stories about what’s been happening behind palace doors.

ITV’s new drama, The Lady, tells the story of Jane Andrews, who used to work as a dresser for Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. The four-part series follows Andrews’ life, from her initial success to her eventual conviction in 2001 for the murder of her boyfriend, Thomas Cressman, for which she spent 18 years in prison. It’s a story connected to the royal family, but focused on the life of someone on the periphery.

It’s a curious tale about a woman struggling with her roots who, after responding to a magazine advertisement (in The Lady, of all places), unexpectedly found herself close to royalty – perhaps even kissing their hand.

Both actresses deliver outstanding performances. Mia McKenna-Bruce portrays Andrews with nuance and emotional depth, and Natalie Dormer perfectly captures the Duchess’s self-pitying nature without becoming overly theatrical.

The biggest issue overshadowing everything is the recent news about Ferguson’s actions while trying to gain favor with wealthy and influential people. The series finished filming last spring, and Natalie Dormer has chosen not to publicize it, instead giving her salary to charities that help children who have been abused.

Watching “The Lady” today, it’s chilling to hear the staff refer to “that American” as the duchess welcomes a new, seemingly harmless friend – businessman Steve Wyatt. Knowing the story, we understand the sadness and difficulties to come.

After all that, who are we supposed to root for? The four-hour story wants us to connect with Andrews, feel for her when she’s ridiculed at Buckingham Palace, celebrate her fun shopping spree inspired by Julia Roberts, and feel angry when she’s fired. It asks us to take sides and become emotionally invested in her journey.

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However, things quickly take a dark turn, moving from the lightheartedness of Pretty Woman to the intensity of Fatal Attraction. Andrews’ character descends into destructive behavior, vandalizing a former partner’s home, ultimately leading to job loss and imprisonment. It highlights a difficult fate when working as Ferguson’s stylist seems like the second worst thing that could happen to someone.

It’s easy to criticize the fashion choices involved, but fully detailing this story feels like reopening old wounds for the victim’s family. Since Andrews had no part in the project and the family has asked for it not to be made, it’s hard to understand why it was created, especially after 25 years of grief.

ITV and Left Bank Pictures, the creators of shows like The Lady and The Crown, understand that stories about royalty and those connected to them consistently attract viewers. Combine that with the huge popularity of true crime dramas, and this type of show – a royal true crime story – seems like a natural fit for television, so it’s surprising it hasn’t been made sooner.

The creators of this commission couldn’t have predicted the constant stream of new information. What began as a seemingly safe, internal review has now become a major problem – one that will take far more than a simple fix to resolve.

Authors

Caroline Frost

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2026-02-18 12:09