Photo: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
In late August 1997,Princess Dianawas newly divorced and ready to begin a brand-new chapter of her life.
Then 36 years old, the royal mom toPrince William, then 15, andPrince Harry, then 12, was in a blossoming relationship withDodi Al Fayed, the son of Harrods department store owner Mohamed Al Fayed. The new couple, making the most of summer, had been vacationing in France together.
Season 6 ofThe Crowndepicts Diana’s life right before the deadly crash and its aftermath, but PEOPLE confirmed in October 2022 thatthe series would not show the actual momentof impact. However, the show does go into detail about the last moments of the princess’s life before she left The Ritz with Al Fayed — including a final phone call with her sons that happened in real life.
Here is a look at what happened when Princess Diana died, as well as the legacy she left behind.
How did Princess Diana die?
JEFF J MITCHELL/AFP
Princess Diana died from extensive injuries sustained in a car accident in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.
The princess was in Paris with Al Fayed when the paparazzi followed the car she was traveling in, hoping to get a photo of the couple.
The driver of the car, Henri Paul — who was later found to be inebriated — turned into a tunnel that ran next to the Seine River in an attempt to evade the photographers. But the vehicle quickly spun out of control while being driven at a speed of 121 mph.
When did Princess Diana die?
Where did Princess Diana die?
Jayne Fincher/Getty
The couple had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant that night, withone employee of the hotel telling PEOPLE, “They looked like two love-struck teenagers.” The pair were then notified that nearly 30 photographers were waiting outside the Ritz and decided to head to Al Fayed’s apartment off the Champs Elysees instead of staying at the hotel. Despite using three decoy cars to try to get away from the photographers, most stayed put until Diana and Al Fayed got into a car with Paul and drove away.
Who else died in the car accident?
Both Princess Diana’s boyfriend Al Fayed and the driver, Paul, died instantly. Paul, who was an employee of the Ritz at the time, was later found to be driving with an illegal blood alcohol level.
Al Fayed’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was the only survivor of the crash and the only passenger who wore a seat belt, although he suffered serious injuries.
How old was Princess Diana when she died?
Tim Graham Photo Library
What were Princess Diana’s last words?
Princess Diana.Tim Graham Photo Library
In 2015, firefighter Xavier Gourmelon revealed Princess Diana’s last wordsin an interview withTheIndependent. Gourmelon said that Diana momentarily gained consciousness and asked, “My God, what has happened?”
Gourmelon was also one of the people who revived Diana after delivering chest compressions. At the time, he believed Diana would be okay. He said, “It was a relief, of course, because as a first responder you want to save lives — and that’s what I thought I had done.” He added that finding out she had died the next day was “very upsetting” and “I know now that there were serious internal injuries, but the whole episode is still very much in my mind. The memory of that night will stay with me forever.”
Harry added, “I can’t really necessarily remember what I said but all I do remember is probably regretting for the rest of my life how short the phone call was.”
How did the public react to Princess Diana’s death?
Anwar Hussein/Getty
The royal family kept a distance between themselves and the public mourners at first.The family hid away at the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, where theQueenandPrince Charleshoped to givePrince WilliamandPrince Harrya bit of respite before their mother’s funeral on Sept. 6, 1997.
Why was Prince Charles questioned about Princess Diana’s death in 2004?
Years after Princess Diana died, theBritish Metropolitan Police opened an inquiry into her deathand requested to interview and questionPrince Charles. The police had been told about a note that Princess Diana wrote in 1995 that read, “My husband is planning ‘an accident’ in my car, brake failure and serious head injury.” Diana reportedly believed that Charles might be planning such an accident so that he could marryPrince WilliamandPrince Harry’s nanny at the time.
Nothing came of the investigation, and Charles participated fully.
What legacy did Princess Diana leave behind?
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/POOL/AFP
Princess Diana is as relevant now as she has ever been, and that is in part due to the work that her sons,Prince WilliamandPrince Harry, have done to ensure that her legacy lives on both through themselves and through their own children.
While speaking at the Diana Awardson his mother’s birthday in 2022,Prince Harryshared with attendees that he can see his mother’s work lives on through them. He said, “I see her legacy in all of you. I see her legacy in a Diana Award community that spans multiple generations. I see her legacy every time I meet with families, young people, and children from all corners of the world. And, I see my mum’s legacy when I look at my own children every day.”
This echoed whatPrince William told Diana Awards honoreesin 2019 when they visited his home, Kensington Palace. As Tessy Ojo, the chief executive of the Diana Award charity, told PEOPLE, “He asked me, ‘How did you find these young people? These are truly world changers.’ And the other thing he said to the group was ‘my mother would be so proud of you.’ "
source: people.com
