Timeline of the Tragedy On the fateful night, Diana and Dodi left the Paris Ritz Hotel after midnight. They were chased by motorcycle photographers. The Mercedes S280 driven by Henri Paul entered the Pont de l'Alma tunnel at a speed of about 105 km/h, far exceeding the 50 km/h speed limit. The car lost control, hit a support pillar, and swerved. Diana, Dodi, and Paul died; their bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was seriously injured but survived.
Official Investigation and Controversy French and British investigations concluded that the accident was purely an accident caused by the driver's negligence and the photographers' pursuit. However, Dodi's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, insisted that the accident was a premeditated murder involving the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Royal Family, who allegedly disapproved of Diana's relationship with a Muslim. He claimed that Henri Paul was a spy and that the light in the tunnel was dazzled by camera flashes or high beams.
New Findings and Claims In 2008, a British inquiry concluded that Diana and Dodi's deaths were "due to the gross negligence of the driver and the pursuing photographers," rejecting the conspiracy theories. However, classified documents revealed by the website WikiLeaks in 2010 claimed that there were details suggesting that an MI6 secret operation may have been involved. Although no concrete evidence exists, doubts continue to exist among supporters of the conspiracy theories.
Impact and Legacy Diana's death left a deep impact on the image of the British monarchy and media publicity. This tragedy also caused drastic changes in the relationship between the media and celebrities, as well as the enforcement of laws restricting paparazzi. However, the question of whether true justice has been achieved remains debated.
Our Investigation Conclusion
Based on the analysis of documents and interviews with legal experts, this report finds that although the official investigation is solid, weaknesses in forensic procedures and lack of transparency at the time created room for speculation. There are still gaps in the records of Diana's movements and the activities of the intelligence agencies that have never been explained. Until all the data is fully disclosed, this mystery will continue to be an unhealed wound in modern history.