Exactly twenty-five years have passed since a Mercedes left the Ritz Hotel in Paris around midnight on August 31, 1997, veering into a tunnel beneath the Alma Bridge, less than a kilometer and a half from the Eiffel Tower. Inside were Princess Diana, her partner Dodi Al-Fayed, their driver Henri Paul, and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones. The crash claimed the lives of Diana, Al-Fayed, and Paul, while Rees-Jones survived, the only occupant wearing a seat belt that night.
A week later, on September 6, 1997, Diana’s funeral took place at Westminster Abbey. It drew an estimated global audience of about 2.5 billion people who watched the service from around the world. Diana was laid to rest at the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire, the ancestral home of her family.
The ensuing investigation into the accident spanned nearly a decade. In December 2006, following the conclusion of the inquiry into Princess Diana’s death, known as Operation Paget, British police issued a report concluding that the crash resulted from the driver’s actions. It found Henri Paul was intoxicated and under the influence of antidepressants at the time of the collision. Despite this finding, numerous alternative theories about the night’s events persisted in public discourse.
The volume of speculation was vast. Investigators, along with media involvement and the family of Dodi Al-Fayed, reportedly explored hundreds of theories in an effort to explain what happened that evening. Substantial resources were allocated to examining different scenarios, but none of the alternative explanations gained formal acceptance as the definitive cause of the crash. Conspiracy theories have continued to circulate in various forms.
Diana allegedly targeted by authorities
Several conspiracy theories arose from Diana’s concerns about her safety, including claims attributed to a private letter reportedly entrusted to a loyal servant. The document, widely cited in discussions about the case, referenced fears of an impending car danger and hinted at a broader scheme affecting royal life. The content has been the subject of public and media scrutiny over the years.
Diana’s safety concerns were linked in part to the condition of the vehicles she used, and nearby incidents involving associates added to the atmosphere of risk surrounding her movements. The death of a close protection colleague shortly before the letter further fueled speculation about security arrangements at the time.
Diana and pregnancy rumors
Speculation about a possible pregnancy involving Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed circulated in the weeks leading up to her death. Mohammed Al-Fayed, Dodi’s father, publicly suggested that a non-traditional union could have altered royal succession considerations. However, autopsy results and subsequent medical testing did not confirm a pregnancy, leaving the matter unresolved in official records.
Allegations involving a white Fiat Uno
New documentary programs examined theories that a white Fiat Uno could have contributed to the crash. Eyewitness accounts and forensic assessments cited traces of white paint on the Mercedes, with investigators noting that a Fiat Uno might have impacted the vehicle prior to the collision. The owner of the Fiat, a French photographer, has been discussed in relation to the case; official statements emphasized that there was no evidence linking him to the actual tragedy. The photographer died under circumstances that were later reported as a suicide, adding to the ongoing intrigue surrounding the incident.
French investigators indicated that the Fiat Uno, rather than being a mere bystander, was part of the night’s complex sequence of events. Still, no definitive link has been established between the Fiat and the fatal crash, according to the official records released in the years following the event.
Driver Henri Paul and contested theories
Some theories posited that Henri Paul, the Ritz driver, was more than a driver and might have had connections to intelligence services. Proponents argued that the crash could have been staged, intending to remove Diana from the public scene. Others noted that Paul did not appear intoxicated to some witnesses at the hotel as he prepared to leave with Diana and the security detail. The discussion remains controversial, and investigators concluded the circumstances of the night involved multiple contributing factors rather than a single cause.
Questions about medical response
There are also debates about the medical response at the scene and whether earlier treatment could have altered the outcome. In France, emergency responders are obligated to provide maximum on-site care, whereas some international accounts highlight differences in procedures across borders. The official investigation found no evidence of a deliberate medical conspiracy to withhold aid. After stabilization at the scene, Diana was transported to a hospital where doctors performed a lengthy operation, but her injuries were incompatible with survival. She succumbed to internal bleeding in the early hours of August 31, 1997.