On August 31, 1997, the United Kingdom and the entire world was shocked by the shocking news of Princess Diana’s death in a tragic car accident in which also died, her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul. The princess’ bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, managed to survive the accident.
Diana died at the age of 36 and her death had an unprecedented impact on the United Kingdom. More than 2.5 billion people around the world watched her funeral.
How did Princess Diana die
Diana and her partner, filmmaker Dodi Al-Fayed, were at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, dining privately in the Imperial Suite. The plan was to have a quiet meal and a romantic evening.
It should be noted that the couple’s relationship was the talk of the tabloids, they were constantly harassed by the paparazzi and that day was no exception.
That night the couple had to leave the hotel as they were being harassed by the press and other guests.
At 11:30 p.m., they left the hotel chased by the paparazzi, Diana and Al-Fayed, the French driver Henri Paul and one of the princess’ bodyguards, Trevor Rees-Jones.
Paul is said to have driven through the boulevards and narrow streets of central Paris at high speed to throw the photographers off the scent. Unfortunately, at 12:19 a.m., the Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class, crashed into pillar 13 in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel at a speed of 120 mph.
Dodi and driver Henri Paul were pronounced dead at the scene. Diana was taken to La Pitie Salpetriere Hospital in Paris and her bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was seriously injured but was the only one to survive.
What was the cause of princess Diana’s death
Diana was still alive when she was taken to hospital but at 4 a.m. she was pronounced dead as a result of cardiac arrest from injuries sustained in the accident, including a severed pulmonary vein.
Was Princess Diana’s death planned
Princess Diana’s untimely death has brought about different conspiracy theories. The most widespread theory is that the royal family planned Princess Diana’s death.
This theory was fueled by Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dodi’s father, who claimed that the royal family orchestrated the tragedy where his son died and added that Diana was pregnant at the time of her death.
“Diana told me on the phone that she was pregnant. I am the only person they told…. She told me she knew Prince Philip and Prince Charles were trying to get rid of her,” he told the High Court while on the witness stand during an inquest, according to Fox News.
Diana felt insecure and was certain she was going to be killed, according to a letter she gave to Paul Burrell, the princess’s former trusted butler. According to reports, the letter expressed fears that someone was “planning ‘an accident’ in my car, a brake failure and a serious head injury to clear the way for Charles to marry.”
When was Princess Diana’s funeral?
On September 6, 1997, Princess Diana was buried at the Spencer family estate in Althorp. That day is known as “The day the world wept”.
Diana’s funeral procession began at Kensington Palace and made its way to Westminster Abbey, it is said that 2.5 billion people watched the funeral on television.
Diana will always be remembered for her glamour but above all, her fight for noble causes and charitable efforts that led her to become the “People’s Princess.”