Death of a Princess: An Investigation

by Thomas Sancton, Scott MacLeod

In many ways the crash of a black Mercedes S-280 into the 13th pillar of Paris's Alma Tunnel on the early morning of 31 August 1997 resembles a thousand other fatal road accidents. This particular tragedy was, however, exceptional. In causing the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, the playboy son of Mohammed Al Fayed, owner of Harrods and one of the world's richest men, it sent shock waves around the globe that month's afterwards show no sign of abating.

Behind the immediate possible causes - speed, alcohol, a chase by paparazzi and even a collision with a second vehicle - lies an array of seemingly random variables, all of which led inexorably to the fatal conclusion.

Thomas Sancton and Scott MacLeod, two highly experienced reporters of Time magazine based in Paris, look back into the question of Diana's relationship with Dodi to discuss what it was in the personality of this jet-setting playboy and movie industry fringe player that attracted and reassured Diana after her unhappy marriage to the Prince of Wales and several unsatisfying affairs.

They ask whey Dodi's conquest of Diana was so important to his father. Were Diana and Dodi planning to marry? Was Diana pregnant? Is there any grain of truth behind the conspiracy theories - particularly rampant in the Middle East - that Diana and Dodi were victims of a British Intelligence plot?

The questions are myriad. Sancton and MacLeod have investigated the crash as closely as the French police. They now have man of the answers. 'Death of a Princess' is their highly revealing report.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, History, Biography, Crime, Biography Memoir, Mystery

272 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 1998

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theories on how the death of Diana occurred abound, will we ever know the absolute truth? Well, Thomas Sancton and Scott MacLeod do their level best to give an authoritative account based a massive amount of research and with plenty of first-hand comment from such key figures as Dodi's father, Mohammed, several of the paparazzi who were first on the scene and police and other officials involved in the aftermath.

Plenty of background is initially given to Diana's various romances, culminating in the connection with Dodi Fayed. And speculation is examined as to whether the couple were planning to marry; views vary on this matter. The Diana/Dodi relationship is then examined in plenty of detail, including investigation into Mohammed's many attempts to (unsuccessfully) obtain British citizenship, before we arrive at the fateful decision by Dodi to try to outsmart the paparazzi by leaving the Ritz Hotel by a rear entrance.

Then the question of Henri Paul being nominated as the driver, even though he was off duty and was not officially licenced to drive the Mercedes S-280. Speculation is rife about whether he had taken plenty of drink beforehand and whether he was also under the influence of drugs; once again opinions from those around him vary on both counts.

Anyway it was apparently Dodi who insisted on Paul being the driver that fateful night so off they went. And in trying to deceive the paparazzi a different, less direct route was chosen to get to the apartment (that of the late Duke of Windsor) where they intended to spend the night. The fact that they never made it is the most detailed part of the story and theories as to how the accident occurred abound. The authors give all sides of the story, which the reader has to judge for him/herself.

The book does become rather gruesome after the accident for there is plenty of description of the horror of the situation inside the Paris tunnel and the role the paparazzi played in in it all still seems open to debate., as does a collision with an unknown Fiat Uno that might, or might not have had an influence on what subsequently happened. The Fiat was never tracked down.

Details of the hospital treatment for Diana is also rather gory while back in the UK the news being passed on to the Royal family is covered in detail, as is the subsequent action taken by the Queen and the family generally.

The final section of the book is very much a conspiracy theory as plenty of options are offered, including the debate about whether a future King in the shape of William, would have converted to Islam. This seems rather over the top in the scheme of things but overall everything that the authors provide gives food for thought and makes for a tragic, but detailed, read, And the fact remains, will we ever know the absolute truth?

[Lily Saladze · Rating 3 out of 5]

იმის გათვალისწინებით რომ საერთოდ არაფერი ვიცოდი ამ ამბების შესახებ, ეს წიგნი მართლა საინტერესო აღმოჩნდა, თუმცა ყველაფერი იმდენად დეტალურადაა განხილული რომ ბოლოსკენ ძალიან დამღლელია თუ მართლა გამოძიების თავიდან დაწყებას არ აპირებ.

წიგნში განხილულია საფრანგეთის, ბრიტანეთის და დოდის (დიანას სატრფოს) მამის ცალკეული გამოძიებები, დეტალურადაა აღწერილი ავარია, უმნიშვნელო დეტალები, რომლებიც მნიშვნელოვნად საეჭვოა და ა.შ. თუმცა საბოლოოდ წიგნი არ გვეუბნება ზუსტ პასუხს: უბედური შემთხვევა თუ მკვლელობა.

მიუხედავად იმისა, რომ მთვრალი მძღოლი და დიდი სიჩქარით მოძრავი მანქანა საკმარისი ფაქტებია იმისათვის, რომ ამ ყველაფერს უბედური შემთხვევა ვუწოდოთ, მეორე მხრივ, რამდენად დაუშვებდა ბრიტანეთის სამეფო ოჯახი იმას, რომ მომავალი მეფის მამინაცვალი ან/და ძმა მუსლიმი ყოფილიყო, ძალიან საეჭვოს ხდის ამ "უბედურ შემთხვევას".

ახლა თამამად შემიძლია დავიწყო The Crown-ის ყურება 😃

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew next to nothing about the circumstances of Princess Di's death (other than that it was a car accident involving paparazzi) before reading this book. I found this book to be a very thorough investigation of the events leading up to her tragic death, as well as a good analysis of possible causes. I liked that it was not one-sided. I also enjoyed that Mr. Sancton gave some biographical background on the people involved. I gave it three stars because some parts were rather bland and factual and not all that interesting to read.

[Dany · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://lamenteaffilata.blogspot.com/2...
questa è la recensione completa.

Posso riassumerla in qualche frase che assomiglia a "è perfetto: analisi precisa e dettagliata. a pochi mesi dall'accaduto, non si poteva desiderare un libro più preciso. peccato sia fuori stampa ora. consigliato a tutti gli amanti del genere"

[ImperatriceofGloom]

I'm learning how she died and stuff for a Social Studies famous Hispanic American, African American, or Woman report thingy.

[Tricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crap.. three chapters of anything interesting.. the rest was just redundant information.

[Susan Mccarren]

Covers many aspects of what happened.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good recounting of the facts surrounding the accident that claimed the life of Diana.The authors posed some valid questions and refrained from wild speculation.