THE DEADLY CRASH

Diana died in the early hours of 31 August 1997 in a Paris hospital. She succumbed to serious injuries sustained in a highspeed car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel.

Her boyfriend, Egyptian businessman Dodi Fayed, and Henri Paul, the driver of the Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was severely injured but survived.

None of them was wearing seatbelts. Henri lost control of the car at the entrance to the tunnel and hit a passing Fiat before swerving and colliding head-on with a pillar supporting the tunnel roof.

The car was estimated to be going at 105km/h, more than twice the tunnel’s 50km/h speed limit.

Reports blamed the paparazzi but an investigation by French authorities found Henri was under the influence of alcohol and the effects of prescription drugs. A jury later found him guilty of unlawful killing through grossly negligent driving.

Seven paparazzi photographers were charged with manslaughter by French authorities but were found not guilty.