Newspapers chronicle the August 31, 1997 Paris car crash that killed Princess Diana.
“A shocking paparazzi photo of a dying Princess Diana could be shown for the first time on Friday in a documentary at the Cannes Film Festival.
The 90-minute documentary about her fatal car accident, called “Unlawful Killing,” includes a graphic, black-and-white close-up of the princess taken moments after the Mercedes she was riding in crashed in a Paris underpass.
One of the movie’s financial backers is former Harrods department store owner Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died in the car with Diana.
British media report that he didn’t know the image of Diana’s face would be included in the movie and plans to stop it from being shown.”
This photo released in 2008 shows Princess Diana in the backseat of the Mercedes roaring away from the Paris Ritz before the fatal accident. Diana glances back at the pursuing paparrazzi. Dodi Al Fayed sits next to her. In front of Al Fayed is the driver, Henri Paul. Seated also upfront is Al Fayed's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones (The Daily Mail)
For details and photos of the 1997 crash, click here.
Now Read: Princess Diana: Death Photo Leaked, Part 2
Readers: I have written many posts on Princess Diana and the British Royal Family. For more background on Diana’s death, please read, “The Shrine at Harrod’s.” For other posts on the British Royal Family, click here.
Lisa's History Room 
I hope the picture is NOT released, the poor woman has been through enough. Reading over your other post, I never knew there was barely a romance between Diana and Dodi. And the fiance on the side – creepy! What ever happened to Diana’s long lost love?
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I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Please keep coming back and tell your friends about Lisa’s History Room.
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I bet the paparazzi’s cameras’ flashes going off in front of the speeding car “blinded” the driver and in that instant, he couldn’t see what was in front of him thus causing him to crash the car.
Soo tragic but that would be my guess. Just look at the driver’s eyes, and those of the bodyguard’s. Clearly there are “catchlights” as effected by cameras’ flashes going off. That is terrible for someone driving and wearing glasses at that. Just try staring right into a camera with its flash going off right at you, while you are driving in a speeding car! and see how well you can “see” what’s in front of you. How awful that this had to happen. Rest in peace, Princess Diana 😦
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Just horrible what the paparazzi did. Guess who tipped them off that Diana was taking off from the back entrance of the Ritz? Its owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, Dodi’s dad, is suspect –
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I wonder if the investigation was able to record what sort of camera equipment , lenses, lights, were used by the people who were chasing after the car. Did they find anyone liable for the crash or was it deemed that the driver was intoxicated and that the crash was due to that? I never followed this tragic story back then. Just curious.
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Why were the paparazzi photos confiscated & destroyed?? surely thats wrong, photos are important in an investigation. Why no ambulance rushed in? why not rushed to hospital?
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The French have a different system for responding to emergencies. Diana was treated on the scene by an emergency team but sadly taken to the hospital later rather than sooner.
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why. wasn’t Diana given first medical assistance?
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Malcolm, I don’t understand your question. Diana was given medical assistance on the scene, in the ambulance, and at the hospital.
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Hi lisa, i just want to give you two thumbs up for your work on this page. I have always loved history. I was 6 years old when Lady Diana died and now i finally have the courage and knowledge to actually study her entire life and even her death. I don’t know who were involved but one thing is for sure regarding Lady Diana’s death , it was certainly not an accident . There is this one question that has been in my mind for a long time ; will the mystery behind her death be finally solved ?
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Hi, Bubu, unfortunately, the princess died as a result of many people taking advantage of her celebrity.
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Hi Lisa , you were absolutely right about that . Its a shame, isn’t it ? I would love to hear more updates regarding Diana unfortunately everything came to a stop . Is it possibe that they might open this case once again ?
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Bubu, I think this is a closed case. Thanks for visiting Lisa’s History Room.
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Awww…anyways you’re most welcome ….thanks for this wonderful blog Lisa 🙂 Keep on posting 🙂
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No offense, but the driver looks kind of crazy and thrilled in this picture. I think he felt the urge for speed and that he liked ‘the action’. Probably it was his fault for killing 3 people, including himself. Yes, his employer probably gave him orders, but he was the one behind the wheel…
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Who took the photo on this page showing the car from the front? (isnt there a series of these photos?) I thought it was determined that no photographer were in the tunnel before the Fayed car?
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