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« on: 27. August 2007., 11:39:00 »Death
The Pont de l'Alma tunnel, where Diana was fatally injured.
Main article: Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
On 31 August 1997, Diana died after a high speed car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris along with Dodi Al-Fayed and the Acting Security Manager of the Hôtel Ritz Paris , Henri Paul, who was instructed to drive the hired Mercedes-Benz through Paris secretly eluding the paparazzi.[16] Blood analysis showed that Henri Paul was illegally intoxicated with alcohol whilst driving at high speed, he drove at high speed in order to evade the pursuiting paparazzis. Tests confirmed that original postmortem blood samples were from Henri Paul, and that he had consumed amounts of alcohol three times that of the French legal limit. Conspiracy theorists had claimed that Paul's blood samples were swapped with blood from someone else — who was drunk — and contended that the driver had not been drinking on the night Diana died. Their black 1994 Mercedes-Benz W140 (registration no. 688 LTV 75) crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel. The two-lane tunnel was built without metal barriers between the pillars, so a slight change in vehicle direction could easily result in a head-on collision with a tunnel pillar. None of the four occupants wore seatbelts.[17] Fayed's bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was closest to the point of impact and yet the only survivor of the crash. Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed were killed instantly, and Diana — unbelted in the back seat- slid forward during the impact and, having been violently thrown around the interior, "submarined" under the seat in front of her, suffering massive damage to her heart and subsequent internal bleeding.[citation needed] She was eventually, after considerable delay, transported by ambulance to the Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, but on the way to casualty went into cardiac arrest twice.[citation needed] Despite lengthy resuscitation attempts, including internal cardiac massage, she died at 4 a.m. local time.[18] Her funeral on 6 September 1997 was broadcast and watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide.[19]
The death of Diana has been the subject of widespread conspiracy theories, supported by Mohamed Fayed, whose son died in the accident. Her former father in law, Prince Philip, seems to be at the heart of most of them but her ex husband has also been named, and was questioned by the Metropolitan Police in 2005. Some other theories have included claims that MI6 or the CIA were involved. Mossad involvement has also been suspected, and this theory has been supported on US television by the intelligence specialist barrister Michael Shrimpton. One particular claim, appearing on the internet, has stated that the princess was battered to death in the back of the ambulance, by assassins disguised as paramedics. These were all rejected by French investigators and British officials, who claimed that the driver, Henri Paul, was drunk and on drugs, although CCTV footage of Paul leaving the Ritz hotel with the Princess and Dodi Fayed does not appear to depict a man in a drunken or incapable state.[20] Nonetheless, in 2004 the authorities ordered an independent inquiry by Lord Stevens, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and he suggested that the case was "far more complex than any of us thought" and reported "new forensic evidence" and witnesses.[21] The French authorities have also decided to reopen the case.[22] Lord Stevens' report, Operation Paget, was published on December 14, 2006 and dismissed all allegations of conspiracy as without foundation.
The paparazzi arrived at the Alma underpass at different stages. Serge Arnal, Christian Martinez, Roland Rat and Stéphane Darmon appear to have arrived first, quickly followed by Serge Benhamou. Records supplied by mobile telephone operators Itinéris and SFR supports Serge Arnal's claim that he attempted to call the emergency services. Film seized from the cameras of Roland Rat, Christian Martinez and Serge Arnal showed that they were taking photographs of the car and/or the occupants almost immediately after arrival at the scene – there were no emergency services near the car visible in their photographs.
On 13 July 2006 Italian magazine Chi published photographs showing the princess receiving oxygen in the wreckage of the car crash, [23] despite an unofficial blackout on such photographs being published.[24] The photographs were taken minutes after the accident and show the Princess slumped in the back seat while a paramedic attempts to fit an oxygen mask over her face. The photographs were also published in other Italian and Spanish magazines and newspapers.[citation needed]
The editor of Chi defended his decision by saying that he published the photographs for the "very simple reason" that they had not been seen before, and that he felt the images do not disrespect the memory of the Princess.[25] The British media publicly refused to publish the images, with the exception of the tabloid newspaper, The Sun, which printed the picture but with the face blacked out.[citation needed]
Fresh controversy arose over the issue of these photographs when it was disclosed that Britain's Channel 4 intended to broadcast them during a documentary to screen in June 2007.[26]
July 1, 2007 marked a concert held by her two sons celebrating the 46th anniversary of her birth. The concert was held at Wembley Stadium and featured many well known and popular acts on the bill.
The 2007 docudrama Diana: Last Days of a Princess details the final two months of her life.
Grave
The funeral procession of Diana passing St. James Park, London.
Diana was buried on 6 September 1997. The Prince of Wales, her sons, her mother, siblings, a close friend, and a clergyman were present. She wore a black long sleeved dress designed by Catherine Walker. She had chosen that particular dress a few weeks before. She was buried with a set of rosary beads in her hands, a gift she received from Mother Teresa, who died the week after Diana. Her grave is on an island in the grounds of Althorp Park, her family home.[27]
The original plan was for her to be buried in the Spencer family vault at the local church in nearby Great Brington, but Diana's brother, Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, said that he was concerned about public safety and security and the onslaught of visitors that might overwhelm Great Brington. He decided that he wanted his sister to be buried where her grave could be easily cared for and visited in privacy by her sons and other relations.
The island is in an ornamental lake known as The Round Oval within Althorp Park's Pleasure Garden. A path with thirty-six oak trees, marking each year of her life, leads to the Oval. Four black swans swim in the lake, symbolising sentinels guarding the island. In the water there are several water lilies. White roses and lilies were Diana's favourite flowers.
On the southern verge of the Round Oval sits the Summerhouse, previously in the gardens of Admiralty House, London, and now serving as a memorial to Diana.[28] An ancient arboretum stands nearby, which contains trees planted by Prince William and Prince Harry, other members of her family, and Diana herself.
Memorials
Immediately after her death, many sites around the world became briefly ad hoc memorials to Diana, where the public left flowers and other tributes. The biggest was outside the gates of Kensington Palace. Permanent memorials include:
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, London.
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington/Chelsea, London.
Diana Spencer Public Contribution Website Memorial at MuchLoved.
Contemporary opinions
John Travolta and Princess Diana
An iconic presence on the world stage, Diana was noted for her sense of style, charisma, humour[citation needed] and high-profile charity work, yet her philanthropic endeavours were overshadowed by her difficult marriage to Prince Charles.
From the time of her engagement to the Prince of Wales in 1981 until her death after a car accident in 1997, Diana was one of the most famous women in the world - a pre-eminent celebrity of her generation. During her lifetime, she was often described as the world's most photographed woman. To her admirers, the Princess of Wales was a role model — after her death, there were even calls for her to be nominated for sainthood[citation needed] — while her detractors consider her to have been suffering from a mental illness. One biographer suggested that Diana was possibly suffering from Borderline personality disorder. [29] Diana admitted to struggling with depression, and the eating disorder bulimia, which recurred throughout her adult life.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles
1961-1975: The Honourable Diana Frances Spencer
1975-1981: The Lady Diana Frances Spencer
1981-1996: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales
1996-1997: Diana, Princess of Wales
Styles
Posthumously, as in life, she is most popularly referred to as "Princess Diana", a title she never held.[30] She is still sometimes referred to in the media as "Lady Diana Spencer", or simply as "Lady Di". After Tony Blair's famous speech she is also referred to as the People's Princess.[31] She stated in an interview that she wished to be known as Queen of Hearts.[32]
Diana's full style, while married, was Her Royal Highness The Princess Charles Philip Arthur George, Princess of Wales and Countess of Chester, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Carrick, Baroness of Renfrew, Lady of the Isles, Princess of Scotland.[33]
Honours
British Honours
Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
Foreign Honours
Grand Officer, House Order of Orange
Arms
As the wife of the Prince of Wales, Diana used arms that included the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom with a plain, three-point label and the inescutcheon of the Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales (the arms of the Prince of Wales), impaled with a shield bearing 1st and 4th quarters plain white, and the 2nd and 3rd quarters bearing a golden fret on a red background defaced with three escallopes (the arms of the Earl Spencer, her father). The supporters were the crowned golden lion from the Royal Arms, and a winged griffin from the Spencer arms. The shield was topped by the Prince of Wales crown. Her motto was Dieu Defend le Droit (English: God defends the right), also used in the Spencer arms.
After her divorce, Diana used the arms of the Spencer family, crowned by a royal coronet.
Legacy
A message of condolence at Trafalgar Square following her death
Diana's interest in supporting and helping young people led to the establishment of the Diana Memorial Award, awarded to youths who have demonstrated the unselfish devotion and commitment to causes advocated by the Princess. In 2002, Diana was ranked 3rd in the 100 Greatest Britons poll, outranking Queen Elizabeth II and other British monarchs.
Princes William and Harry organised a concert held to celebrate their mother's life and commemorate her work. All 60,000 tickets sold out in a matter of minutes when they went on sale in January. The Concert for Diana was staged on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday, at London's new Wembley Stadium. The Princes have arranged a memorial service on 31 August 2007 to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death, it has come to light that their stepmother, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will not attend the memorial, after an invite she graciously accepted from Princes William and Harry in December 2006, later on after advise from the Prince of Wales, Clarence House announced with a statement from Camilla, that she would not wish to attend "as my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion which is to focus on the life and service of Diana".[[5]]] With the 10th anniversary of Diana's death, the depth of her legacy has been questioned, as has the appropriateness of the memorials and burial site tourism that has developed around her memory.
(Wikipedia)
The Pont de l'Alma tunnel, where Diana was fatally injured.
Main article: Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
On 31 August 1997, Diana died after a high speed car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris along with Dodi Al-Fayed and the Acting Security Manager of the Hôtel Ritz Paris , Henri Paul, who was instructed to drive the hired Mercedes-Benz through Paris secretly eluding the paparazzi.[16] Blood analysis showed that Henri Paul was illegally intoxicated with alcohol whilst driving at high speed, he drove at high speed in order to evade the pursuiting paparazzis. Tests confirmed that original postmortem blood samples were from Henri Paul, and that he had consumed amounts of alcohol three times that of the French legal limit. Conspiracy theorists had claimed that Paul's blood samples were swapped with blood from someone else — who was drunk — and contended that the driver had not been drinking on the night Diana died. Their black 1994 Mercedes-Benz W140 (registration no. 688 LTV 75) crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel. The two-lane tunnel was built without metal barriers between the pillars, so a slight change in vehicle direction could easily result in a head-on collision with a tunnel pillar. None of the four occupants wore seatbelts.[17] Fayed's bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was closest to the point of impact and yet the only survivor of the crash. Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed were killed instantly, and Diana — unbelted in the back seat- slid forward during the impact and, having been violently thrown around the interior, "submarined" under the seat in front of her, suffering massive damage to her heart and subsequent internal bleeding.[citation needed] She was eventually, after considerable delay, transported by ambulance to the Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, but on the way to casualty went into cardiac arrest twice.[citation needed] Despite lengthy resuscitation attempts, including internal cardiac massage, she died at 4 a.m. local time.[18] Her funeral on 6 September 1997 was broadcast and watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide.[19]
The death of Diana has been the subject of widespread conspiracy theories, supported by Mohamed Fayed, whose son died in the accident. Her former father in law, Prince Philip, seems to be at the heart of most of them but her ex husband has also been named, and was questioned by the Metropolitan Police in 2005. Some other theories have included claims that MI6 or the CIA were involved. Mossad involvement has also been suspected, and this theory has been supported on US television by the intelligence specialist barrister Michael Shrimpton. One particular claim, appearing on the internet, has stated that the princess was battered to death in the back of the ambulance, by assassins disguised as paramedics. These were all rejected by French investigators and British officials, who claimed that the driver, Henri Paul, was drunk and on drugs, although CCTV footage of Paul leaving the Ritz hotel with the Princess and Dodi Fayed does not appear to depict a man in a drunken or incapable state.[20] Nonetheless, in 2004 the authorities ordered an independent inquiry by Lord Stevens, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and he suggested that the case was "far more complex than any of us thought" and reported "new forensic evidence" and witnesses.[21] The French authorities have also decided to reopen the case.[22] Lord Stevens' report, Operation Paget, was published on December 14, 2006 and dismissed all allegations of conspiracy as without foundation.
The paparazzi arrived at the Alma underpass at different stages. Serge Arnal, Christian Martinez, Roland Rat and Stéphane Darmon appear to have arrived first, quickly followed by Serge Benhamou. Records supplied by mobile telephone operators Itinéris and SFR supports Serge Arnal's claim that he attempted to call the emergency services. Film seized from the cameras of Roland Rat, Christian Martinez and Serge Arnal showed that they were taking photographs of the car and/or the occupants almost immediately after arrival at the scene – there were no emergency services near the car visible in their photographs.
On 13 July 2006 Italian magazine Chi published photographs showing the princess receiving oxygen in the wreckage of the car crash, [23] despite an unofficial blackout on such photographs being published.[24] The photographs were taken minutes after the accident and show the Princess slumped in the back seat while a paramedic attempts to fit an oxygen mask over her face. The photographs were also published in other Italian and Spanish magazines and newspapers.[citation needed]
The editor of Chi defended his decision by saying that he published the photographs for the "very simple reason" that they had not been seen before, and that he felt the images do not disrespect the memory of the Princess.[25] The British media publicly refused to publish the images, with the exception of the tabloid newspaper, The Sun, which printed the picture but with the face blacked out.[citation needed]
Fresh controversy arose over the issue of these photographs when it was disclosed that Britain's Channel 4 intended to broadcast them during a documentary to screen in June 2007.[26]
July 1, 2007 marked a concert held by her two sons celebrating the 46th anniversary of her birth. The concert was held at Wembley Stadium and featured many well known and popular acts on the bill.
The 2007 docudrama Diana: Last Days of a Princess details the final two months of her life.
Grave
The funeral procession of Diana passing St. James Park, London.
Diana was buried on 6 September 1997. The Prince of Wales, her sons, her mother, siblings, a close friend, and a clergyman were present. She wore a black long sleeved dress designed by Catherine Walker. She had chosen that particular dress a few weeks before. She was buried with a set of rosary beads in her hands, a gift she received from Mother Teresa, who died the week after Diana. Her grave is on an island in the grounds of Althorp Park, her family home.[27]
The original plan was for her to be buried in the Spencer family vault at the local church in nearby Great Brington, but Diana's brother, Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, said that he was concerned about public safety and security and the onslaught of visitors that might overwhelm Great Brington. He decided that he wanted his sister to be buried where her grave could be easily cared for and visited in privacy by her sons and other relations.
The island is in an ornamental lake known as The Round Oval within Althorp Park's Pleasure Garden. A path with thirty-six oak trees, marking each year of her life, leads to the Oval. Four black swans swim in the lake, symbolising sentinels guarding the island. In the water there are several water lilies. White roses and lilies were Diana's favourite flowers.
On the southern verge of the Round Oval sits the Summerhouse, previously in the gardens of Admiralty House, London, and now serving as a memorial to Diana.[28] An ancient arboretum stands nearby, which contains trees planted by Prince William and Prince Harry, other members of her family, and Diana herself.
Memorials
Immediately after her death, many sites around the world became briefly ad hoc memorials to Diana, where the public left flowers and other tributes. The biggest was outside the gates of Kensington Palace. Permanent memorials include:
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, London.
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington/Chelsea, London.
Diana Spencer Public Contribution Website Memorial at MuchLoved.
Contemporary opinions
John Travolta and Princess Diana
An iconic presence on the world stage, Diana was noted for her sense of style, charisma, humour[citation needed] and high-profile charity work, yet her philanthropic endeavours were overshadowed by her difficult marriage to Prince Charles.
From the time of her engagement to the Prince of Wales in 1981 until her death after a car accident in 1997, Diana was one of the most famous women in the world - a pre-eminent celebrity of her generation. During her lifetime, she was often described as the world's most photographed woman. To her admirers, the Princess of Wales was a role model — after her death, there were even calls for her to be nominated for sainthood[citation needed] — while her detractors consider her to have been suffering from a mental illness. One biographer suggested that Diana was possibly suffering from Borderline personality disorder. [29] Diana admitted to struggling with depression, and the eating disorder bulimia, which recurred throughout her adult life.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles
1961-1975: The Honourable Diana Frances Spencer
1975-1981: The Lady Diana Frances Spencer
1981-1996: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales
1996-1997: Diana, Princess of Wales
Styles
Posthumously, as in life, she is most popularly referred to as "Princess Diana", a title she never held.[30] She is still sometimes referred to in the media as "Lady Diana Spencer", or simply as "Lady Di". After Tony Blair's famous speech she is also referred to as the People's Princess.[31] She stated in an interview that she wished to be known as Queen of Hearts.[32]
Diana's full style, while married, was Her Royal Highness The Princess Charles Philip Arthur George, Princess of Wales and Countess of Chester, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Carrick, Baroness of Renfrew, Lady of the Isles, Princess of Scotland.[33]
Honours
British Honours
Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
Foreign Honours
Grand Officer, House Order of Orange
Arms
As the wife of the Prince of Wales, Diana used arms that included the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom with a plain, three-point label and the inescutcheon of the Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales (the arms of the Prince of Wales), impaled with a shield bearing 1st and 4th quarters plain white, and the 2nd and 3rd quarters bearing a golden fret on a red background defaced with three escallopes (the arms of the Earl Spencer, her father). The supporters were the crowned golden lion from the Royal Arms, and a winged griffin from the Spencer arms. The shield was topped by the Prince of Wales crown. Her motto was Dieu Defend le Droit (English: God defends the right), also used in the Spencer arms.
After her divorce, Diana used the arms of the Spencer family, crowned by a royal coronet.
Legacy
A message of condolence at Trafalgar Square following her death
Diana's interest in supporting and helping young people led to the establishment of the Diana Memorial Award, awarded to youths who have demonstrated the unselfish devotion and commitment to causes advocated by the Princess. In 2002, Diana was ranked 3rd in the 100 Greatest Britons poll, outranking Queen Elizabeth II and other British monarchs.
Princes William and Harry organised a concert held to celebrate their mother's life and commemorate her work. All 60,000 tickets sold out in a matter of minutes when they went on sale in January. The Concert for Diana was staged on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday, at London's new Wembley Stadium. The Princes have arranged a memorial service on 31 August 2007 to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death, it has come to light that their stepmother, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will not attend the memorial, after an invite she graciously accepted from Princes William and Harry in December 2006, later on after advise from the Prince of Wales, Clarence House announced with a statement from Camilla, that she would not wish to attend "as my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion which is to focus on the life and service of Diana".[[5]]] With the 10th anniversary of Diana's death, the depth of her legacy has been questioned, as has the appropriateness of the memorials and burial site tourism that has developed around her memory.
(Wikipedia)