Princess Diana is a name that needs no introduction since her first appearance in front of British cameras with Prince Charles. However, what remains of her memory are conspiracy theories that persist today.
On August 31, 1997, Diana and her new love, Dodi Fayed, were returning from a nine-day excursion on Fayed’s yacht on the French Riviera. On their way home to London, they stopped in Paris, where Fayed owned an apartment close to his father’s hotel: The Ritz Carlton.
Because of the news of their relationship, the paparazzi swarmed the couple. Diana asked them to leave her alone, but the photographers continued to hound her.
Rumors state that Dodi purchased a ring for Diana and wanted to propose to her that evening in his home. Despite Fayed’s father pleading with him to stay at the Hotel, Dodi tapped Henri Paul, the head of security at the Ritz Carlton, to navigate a safe ride from the hotel restaurant to his apartment. Henri informed the press that the couple would exit the front of the hotel and enter a black Mercedes. Meanwhile, the couple left through the back and drove off in a duplicate car.
Soon after, the paparazzi uncovered the ruse and bolted after them. According to the authorities, Henri bypassed the regular exit to Dodi’s home. Instead, he traveled to Pont de l’Alma underpass, where he hit a white Fiat and spun out of control. Forensics determined the Mercedes traveled at 64 mph, double that area’s 35mph speed limit.
Dodi and Henri died instantly. Trevor Rees-Jones, another bodyguard for Dodi, remained in serious condition but lived. Diana also lived for several hours but succumbed to her injuries and died at the hospital.
At first, the police arrested seven photographers who swarmed the Mercedes for causing the accident. Then, they lowered the charge to taking photos and not helping the victims. The final conclusion held Henri Paul responsible for reckless driving and the deaths of the occupants in the car.
However, the end is not that simple.
Here are a few of the many questions remaining:
- Henri Paul:
According to forensics reports, Henri Paul had a blood alcohol level of four times the legal limit in France. His erratic driving seemed to confirm his intoxication contributed to the fatal crash. Yet, Mohamad Al-Fayed (Dodi’s father) and Henri’s family had questions. Fayed hired four pathologists to review the autopsy report. The pathologist returned a troubling report of 28 critical errors. But the most shocking conclusion was Henri’s carbon monoxide levels were above 20 percent. If that were accurate, Henri would have displayed severe health complications such as uncontrolled vomiting, massive headaches, and the inability to walk. Yet, CCTV footage shows Henri bending over, tying his shoes, and walking across the hall without difficulty. How could those levels be accurate?
- Erek Patel:
Most websites will tell you that a doctor passing the tunnel that day was the first to encounter Diana after the crash. But that is not true. Erek Patel was driving home that night on his motorcycle. Patel heard the car skidding and then an implosion. In the back seat, Patel found a woman sitting on her side with her head between the driver and passenger seats. When he examined her, he realized it was Diana. Patel drove to the police box to call for an ambulance; however, the authorities laughed. He drove to the police station and demanded they listen to him, instead they handcuffed him for lying about the Princess.
His testimony is notable because he did not see a white Fiat or paparazzi in that area when he entered the tunnel. Could it be that the Fiat left the scene before his arrival, and the photographers appeared after his departure to call for an ambulance? Either way, the authorities labeled his statement a fabrication and struck his account from the records. Patel’s lawyers believed the authorities were eager to convict the photographers and disregarded his testimony to avoid complicating the matter.
- White Fiat:
The investigators found debris from a white Fiat in the tunnel. The police questioned Fiat owners in that area, but found nothing. Unsatisfied with that conclusion, Dodi’s father hired private investigators. Their investigation found an abandoned white Fiat in a field with a repaired back tail light. The car belonged to a famous photographer, James Andanson, who had pictured Dodi and Diana together on the yacht. After the accident, Andanson boasted to friends that he had been in the tunnel and taken photos of Diana, which he denied soon afterward. Further, based on a former MI6 agent’s testimony, Andanson had political ties and may have worked contractually for MI6.
A photo appeared during the 2008 jury trial that shows the front of the Mercedes with Diana’s head lowered and Rees and Paul looking frightened into the camera. Could this picture come from Andanson, who caused the accident?
What adds fuel to Andanson’s mystery is his death in 2000. Authorities found James in his vehicle with a hole in his head and his body burned. The autopsy also found that James had a high carbon monoxide level before dying. High carbon monoxide levels? Sounds like Henri’s forensics report, right?
What do you think? Are these legitimate questions or conspiracy theories? Let me know what you think.
Before I go, I want to let you know I published a 30-day devotional, Threads of Faith: Weaving God Into Daily Life. You can find it on Amazon under my other name, Lizette Vega.
Until next time,
Harper
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