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Read the full transcripts of the Diana inquest
The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, has begun to reveal some of her most intimate details – including evidence she was on the contraceptive pill at the time of her death.
The jury hearing evidence about Diana’s death was told they will have to consider whether she was pregnant, whether or not she was poised to get engaged, and whether her body was embalmed unlawfully after she died alongside her boyfriend Dodi al-Fayed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997.
Concluding his opening address at the inquest at London’s High Court, the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker, addressed Mohamed Al Fayed’s claims that the couple were murdered by MI6 under the orders of the Duke of Edinburgh because they believed the Princess was pregnant and might have been about to remarry.
“First, her pregnancy or suspected pregnancy is said to have provided the motive or part of the motive for killing Diana,” the coroner told the jury.
“Second, her body was embalmed by the French and it is said that the purpose of this was to conceal that she was pregnant.”
He said the jury would be unlikely to come to any scientific conclusion about the Princess’s alleged pregnancy because of conflicting facts.
According to the coroner, Diana had not given any indication to her doctor, family, friends or associates that she was pregnant, and no pregnancy test was carried out on at the hospital where she was taken on the night she died because there appeared to be no reason to do so.
“It is likely pregnancy is not a matter that can be proved one way or the other in scientific terms,” the coroner said.
He also told the 11 members of the jury that he hoped to call Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell to give evidence in person to address many of the areas of dispute.
And he highlighted questions over samples taken from the couple’s driver Henri Paul’s body which might appear “puzzling”.
The jury of six woman and five men, are expected to watch footage this afternoon of Mr Paul on his way to the car to meet Diana and Dodi, as well as a tourist video showing the atmosphere outside the Ritz Hotel as the paparazzi waited for the Princess, to help set the scene of that fateful night in Paris.
The CCTV footage of Mr Paul shows him walking in and around the Ritz before he got behind the wheel of the Mercedes. The bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was the only survivor of the crash, but he has no recollection of what happened.
According to the coroner Mr Paul is seen walking down some stairs, bending down to tie his shoelaces, then standing up and walking away with no problems of balance - not the kind of behaviour of someone who is drunk.
Two previous investigations into the crash found the accident was caused by Mr Paul driving too fast under the influence of alcohol.
Other footage expected to be shown this afternoon was taken by Australian tourist Chloe Papazahariakis, who has reportedly been called to give evidence.
Ms Papazahariakis and her friend Vlad Borovac were filming the paparazzi waiting for Diana and Dodi outside the Ritz, and the footage shows the atmosphere around the hotel before the crash.
Mohamed Al Fayed was in court this morning to hear the second day of the inquest, which is expected to last six months.
The Spencer family has been represented by Diana’s sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale, who was yesterday accompanied to court by Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the part-time private secretary to Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry.
Henri Paul’s parents Gisele and Jean are also believed to be attending the inquest.
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Has anyone investigated the possiblity of Andre Paul being blinded by the flood lights of the photographers , who were on motor cycle pillions ? As they came up to the car , in the tunnel , they would have switched on their flood lights , in order to film , This would hve blinded the driver (Andre Paul) and he would have instinctively vied away from the source of the light .This would have sent the car into the side wall of the tunnel and thus cause the crash .
jeff. curran, Loughborough,
No matter what Fayed does he/we will never find out if any under cover organisation had anything to do with diana's and dodi's death. Well maybe in 50 years time!!! but given her son will be king that could be a possible no!!! it does seem fishy though, she was a very powerful woman, wether we like it or not. I believe Henry Paul was injected at the traffic lights, a bright exposure of light, at the mouth of the tunel. Hence causing the crash. Simple, Henry Paul drunk. Shambles. That bloke had been driving for how many years? god knows how many times he went though the tunel b4hand, so was aware of the dip. Because Diana apparently could of been saved, it took 2 hours to get to the hospital. well they had to make sure she died. good for you Fayed fighting this cause. i think they were murdered, have done from the start. Was made to look like a simple crash with a drunk driver.
caroline, essex,
So what if she was on the pill,she may have been a "princess" but she was also human so there was no law against her taking the pill. Its unfortunate that the press and jury would focus on her means of contraception at all. I realise this would go to the issue of whether or not she was pregnant of which in my opinion is irrelevant, even if she was the child could not have been saved anyway. What a waste of time to argue about the x factor when the real issue is why they had to die so tragically. I would say focus on the facts ,finish this already and let her rest in peace once and for all, I'm sure she would not have wanted her sons to have to keep enduring the memory of her vioilent death 10years after the fact.
Again people die every day very violently around the world in wars and through natural disasters, I say its lets focus a little less energy on something as trivial as was she pregnant and instead redirect that energy towards the living children who need it but cant get it.
Victoria, Nairobi, Kenya
Oh my god!!!! The pill??? how dare she??? Isn't there more important stuff to worry about? Unless.... wait! it was the pill that caused the crash!! The catholics were right about contraception all along!
Felix, Melbourne,
The only reason we are reading about whether she was on the pill,pregnant,etc.is because this is another conspiracy theory put forward by Fayed,no-one else.Diana was admired for her charity yes,but there are many unsung heroes doing this every day.To lose a loved one is tragic whatever the circumstances,but that is no excuse to accuse people of wrong-doing iwthout proof.
ELIZABETH, sussex, england
First of all, I feel for Dodi Fayed's father. To lose a child (no matter how old) is unimaginable. So I can maybe understand his wishes for this investigation. He needs his own peace of mind. As far as everything having to do with Diana, like her birth control habits and such, I really don't feel that that is anyone's business or front page news. I think that the paparazzi obviously did NOT learn a damn thing from the Princess's death because lookit the vultures all over the inquest. People need to let the woman Rest in Peace. Those words exsist for a reason. Let William and Harry be able to wake up every day without hearing people and media defacing their family please.
Theresa, Clifton Park, usa/ny
It is possible to forget to take the pill. Henri Paul looked sober as he tied his shoelaces and walked about. Why didn't the 'bodyguard' insist that seat belts be worn? Why didn't Dodi's usual chauffeur drive the car, as he was at the hotel? Why couldn't Dodi and Diana stay at the Ritz for the night?
Marlene, Pendle, UK
Why did it take two hours to get the Princess to hospital?
Marlene, Pendle, UK
Given the amount of suspicion and uncertainty around her's, Dodi Fayed's and Henri Paul's death surely this inquest is a good thing - much needed to lay this poor case to rest - not a waste of time - am sure her sons and family appreciate the effort and am convinced a huge proportion of the British do as well.
Lisa, England,
It is possible to become pregnant whilst taking the pill, I have a beautiful grandson as proof.
Sarah, liverpool,
A correction: the first photo shows the driver astonished and almost smiling, the second and last one show the driver shouting.
The eyes are always open, but in the second the driver is shouting.
Or the car didn't work or an obstacle made skid the car. The driver is shouting because is understand he cannot control the car, but the eyes are open.
Mirko, Milan, Italy
I think that there will be far too much speculation and gossip mongering surrounding this to enable any jury to be able to view the accident in an objective way. It is just a pity that people cannot accept the fact that a tragic accident happend to an icon of the age.
Diana should be allowed to rest in peace and her sons should be allowed to live without this constant raking over of ridiculous claims. It is hard enough to lose a parent at a young age without other stresses.
Jen, Doha, Qatar
What, you mean to say these people are human - just like the rest of us?
Neil, Gloucestershire, England
Normally I would not comment but what has Dianna's medical record got to do with the crash, unless it was the reason for the crash or a contributing factor it is & should remain confidential. The jury sho0uld only be given relevant facts pertaining to the crash. As far as I am aware Dianna was a rear seat passenger in the vehicle and was therefore not in control of that vehicle. The only relevant factors are "was she wearing a seat belt which may have lessened her injuries" and did she do or say anything to distract the driver which may have been a contributing factor in the accident. Stick to facts then you might get the right result.
r paterson, oxford, UK
The Corriere della Sera ( Milan) publishes six photos of the car
and two of the driver and of the M16 . The driver seems astonished and he is telling something. The driver seems like he was unable to control the car because of something unforeseen. I don't know if he is blinded by flahes( he had be used to flashes) or because he understand that something did
not work. His eyes are open. If he was blinded, his eyes would
be a little closed, he would have a pain on his face. His face is without pain. He seems astonished. The problem is to understand why the driver is so astonished. Did'nt the car work?
Mirko, Milan, Italy
Seeing the latest pictures of the car, the driver was blinded by the flashes (probably more than one, as there are more than one picture taken at the time). Had it been me driving, I would have lost control of the car, no doubt about it. And were I the photographer, I doubt I could sleep at night
mary, madrid, spain
Why all the fuss with this woman? During her short existence, she lived fast and loose life like eveyone else. She was no mother Theresa, but the Brits and the continentals like to think she was.
Subramaniam. P, Paris,
I'm Sure MI6 could have found a far less risky way of killing her had they have been involved. A car chase to cause her death? really? The chances of them both dieing in this way seem far from certain to me. But we all love a great conspiracy theory. Diana dieing accidentally in a crash is far too common and boring it appears. Long live the Express. Plentiful days for them.
sam, leciester,
The Coroner's words," Confliciting facts" with regard to the possible pregnancy, sounds like a very good start for the jury.
Bryn Davies, St.Malo, France
Can it be possible? Another Diana inquest? I can't keep up with them. What a waste of everyone's time and effort.
Simon, Calgary, Canada
Please tell me this is not your headline. Since when did The Times become a tabloid...when did The Princess of Wales contraceptive methods become a story in the public interest.
A new low!
Nick, London,