Description

In the early hours of August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, tragically passed away due to injuries sustained in a fatal car accident in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris, France. The car, a Mercedes-Benz W140, was driven by Henri Paul, deputy head of security at the Hôtel Ritz Paris, who was found to be intoxicated by alcohol and prescription drugs, leading to loss of control at high speed. Diana's partner, Dodi Fayed, and Henri Paul were both found deceased in the car, while Diana's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, survived the crash but sustained serious injuries. Despite initial reports, it was later revealed that none of the occupants were wearing seat belts. The French investigation concluded that Paul was solely responsible for the accident. In 2008, a British inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing due to grossly negligent driving by Paul and the paparazzi vehicles following them. Diana's untimely death, at the age of 36, sparked widespread public mourning worldwide, with her televised funeral watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people. The royal family faced criticism for their response to Diana's passing, and public interest in her life and legacy has remained significant in the years since.