Art Harris Exclusive: How Princess Diana Died; Was Driver Henri Paul Drunk, or Was It Murder? The Bald Truth Investigates From Paris to London
By Art Harris, (c) www.artharris.com, all rights reserved
I was in “diplomatic talks” with a girlfriend in Los Angeles, and it was not going well when my cell phone rang with a reprieve to cover a tragic romance much bigger than mine.
“Princess Diana just died in a car crash in Paris,” my then-executive producer at CNN was saying, “how fast can you get there?”
Not fast enough.
Within hours, I was on a plane to join a CNN-Time magazine team scrambling to dig into a mega-mystery that still hangs heavy over the Seine like a river fog.
Ten years later, the fog remains, as competing theories abound about what happened, and tourists still flock to the tunnel crash site in France to remember Diana, and maybe where they were when she died with boyfriend Dodi Fayad.
Across the English Channel, other mourners still lay wreaths and notes in her memory outside London’s Kensington, as they did on the 10th anniversary of her death Friday to remember a “people’s princess” who touched us all.
Armed with all the French papers I could grab, LeMonde, Le Canard Enchaine, Figaro and British tabloids I’d grabbed off the rack at the airport, I jotted notes to myself about holes in French and British accounts, flew into Charles DeGaulle and grabbed a taxi to the palace of justice.
Bluffing my way inside with a press badge and passable French, I learned that Paris investigators had taken over and weren’t talking, started calling police sources and photographers on the scene that night.
The official buzz blamed paparazzi for chasing her black Mercedes into the tunnel, blinding driver Henri Paul with camera lights before he crashed, and buzzing about the bodies before rescue workers arrived. CBS’s Dan Rather beat me to the apartment of one paparazzi, but he was nice enough to give me an interview about what he’d learned.
. I tracked down the first doctor on the scene, a boyish Frederic Maillez, soft-spoken, crewcut. He recalled the driver, and Dodi Fayed were dead; the British bodyguard, the only one wearing a seatbelt, was hanging on barely, and would survive; and for a time, he didn’t know the pretty blond woman in back was a princess. “Someone said, ‘Speak to her in English,’ and I was able to give her a little comfort,” he told me.
By now, we’d been up about 48 hours, and I had to nudge my cameraman to wake up. He was so exhausted, he’d nodded off mid-interview with Dr. Maillez. Watching the monitor, I noticed the doctor was getting emotional, and he was locked on a medium shot. I turned around. He was snoring.
Maillez was saying that before the ambulance arrived, he leaned close to hear Diana whisper what she wanted conveyed to her sons, William and Harry, and he promised he would, refusing to reveal what she’d said until he’d spoken with Prince Charles, Harry and William. Within hours, Diana was dead from internal bleeding, sparking a debate over crash care for auto accident victims, and much more.
In France, I learned it’s standard procedure for ambulance drivers go slow, to keep patients comfortable enroute to a hospital, while doctors on board try to keep vital signs cooking. In Diana’s case, some argued, had the ambulance driver screamed through the streets like an American madman, specialists might have had time to diagnose internal bleeding and saved her.
But beyond the medical debate, there were question of sobriety: was driver Henri Paul drunk, or was he set up to crash? Was it murder? So far, official police investigations have concluded the crash an accident, caused by an impaired driver.
To check that out, I headed for the Ritz Hotel bar, and found a waitress and bartender who remembered they’d served Paul at least three Pernods, an aperitif, before he headed for out the doors to drive Dodi and Diana.
I then walked about 16 blocks, past Harry’s Bar, to Paul’s apartment, to see if anyone answered the door. A woman, possibly a girlfriend, refused to open up, so I hit the streets, looking for watering holes nearby he might have frequented.
He was indeed a creature of habit, and locals told me he’d done a regular pub crawl that night. One bar I stopped at was packed with a working class mix of guys and couples, and remembered Henri as a jovial guy, who had one, maybe two drinks earlier that night.
Around the corner, I stumbled upon another bar, went inside and found only women, dancing with each other, holding hands, nuzzling at banquettes, everyone friendly and cozy. No way, I thought, they’d know him here, but I asked anyway, and the manager said, indeed, the lesbians loved Henri Paul, that he was polite, friendly, a gentleman who never hit on the girls, but offered to walk them home late at night, for security, and usually closed the place down.
That’s why she remembered him that night, because he’d come in early and mentioned he had to go work, drive someone at the Ritz. He only had time for a couple, she said. By now, I’m counting at least 4 drinks before he gets to the Ritz, and another 2-3 or more Pernods there. You do the math.
Paul may not have been sloshed, but even a big guy, ex-military, a pilot, noted for holding his sauce, might have his timing thrown off a little, especially if you imagine Dodi Fayad barking at the driver to go faster and outrun the paparazzi, acting macho as he sometimes did, friends told me.
Despite the impaired driver as a likely factor in the crash, Mohammed Fayad, Dodi’s father, still believes it was a royal conspiracy, insists his boy was murdered by a palace-MI5 cabal to stop the princess from marrying an Arab, albeit an Egyptian at the top of the commercial class, and bearing his son’s child once they did. Convinced they were on the brink of tying the knot, he’s funded one investigation after another, and sources who have worked for him tell me there are lots of questions among the claims he’s unearthed. I haven’t been able to confirm them first hand, but he claims there were:
–high carbon monoxide levels in Henri Paul’s blood, paint found on his black Mercedes some suggest came from a mystery Fiat that pushed him into a deadly spin, curious deaths of people like a nurse Fayad claims Diana told she was pregnant before she died.
Pregnancy? Marriage plans? While close Diana friends have scoffed she’d marry Fayad, his his friends and family say he’d picked out a $200,000 ring…that the couple was excited and heading back to Dodi’s apartment, where champagne was on ice that night, the stage set for romance and a proposal.
In Paris, I interviewed his powerful uncle, legendary arms dealer Adnan Khashogi and his sons, Dodi’s cousins, who all believed the romance was the real thing; they’d never seen their Hollywood playboy- producer so happy. He’d won an Oscar for co-producing the inspiring movie, “Chariots of Fire,” about an underdog track team, and was now ready to give up his thrill of chasing beautiful starlets, if Diana would have him.
Indeed, he’d just dumped his last girlfriend, LA supermodel Kelly Fisher, who’d told me at the time she was hurt and angry, She’d given up her career to be with him, she said, only to discover he’d been chasing Diana behind her back. After she saw the paparazzi photo of Dodi and Diana embracing—The Kiss!—screamed the tabloids, she tried to confront him, calling and calling, no answer, until his father, Mohammed, came on the line, she told me, and ordered her never to call again.
“He was so cold,” she told me, “it frightened me.”
She retained mega-plaintiff lawyer Gloria Allred to sue Fayed for lost wages in a modeling career she claimed she gave up to be with him; she dropped the suit when he died.
So what do you think? Was it a tragic accident, or something more sinister? Do you support the conspiracy theory Diana had to die because she might have been pregnant with a non-British child, or perhaps had antagonized major arms makers, governments and defense contractors with her anti-land mine campaign?
Send us your comments and theories and let us know where you were and what you thought when she died.
August 31st, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I remember being very young and watching the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana and dreaming
I remember her charitable work and her sons growing up in the public eye.
I remember when she passed and crying.
I loved the memorial concert her son’s did in remembering their mother. It was a wonderful tribute!!!
I never ‘completely’ followed this story after her death and what happened. I can recall reading something here and there about Dodi’s father fighting for investigations and various conspiracy theories.
I FLIPPED when I watched the TV show this past weekend called “The Murder of Princess Diana”.
I DO NOT know all the facts regarding the book that the movie was based on, nor have researched anything regarding it.
BUT…. If this movie was based on some truths, it AMAZED me what this reporter (not paparazzi)herself went through. She was there when it happened, from the moment Diana arrived at ‘The Ritz’ to being in the tunnel by jumping on a pap’s motorcycle at the last minute in fear [gut instinct] because of ’security’ events that happened before the fatal drive. What amazed me most was the MANY sudden deaths of those involved in the investigation and/or that she talked to after investigating.
Like I said, I am ASSUMING this was based on facts of the reporter. She sent an initial report to her home paper office and it was robbed immediately and everything stolen. There was just so many ODD coincedences that I NEVER knew before this show came out.
Do I believe in conspiracy theories? Yes, I suppose so.
Do I believe in Princess Di’s conspiracy? I think Prince Harry said it best in his interview with Matt Lauer this year, “I don’t know, for me personally what happened you know that night, whatever happened in that tunnel — no one will ever know. “
August 31st, 2007 at 7:19 pm
My sister in law called me on this one, I will tell you what I told her, the paparazzi hounded Dianna to her death and those are the only facts that anyone has shown me. The rest is theory.
I want to express what a wonderful public women Diana was, full of grace, charity and mercy. She made a difference in so many ppl’s life. She was loved and cherished. I will never understand what happen with her husband and why he could not show her understanding.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Art,
So you were there right after the horrific accident that caused the tragic death of Princess Diana. Wow…I bet it was a circus trying to get information with all the press there.
I have always thought the paparazzi played the major part in her death. Follow by the fact that the driver Henri Paul had several drinks prior to picking Diana and Dodi up at the hotel.
I still think that the Paparazzi is ruthless and today I heard tapes of Diana talking to the Paparazzi that put chills down my arms. She was begging them to leave her alone. Very, very sad indeed.
That’s my theory on the what happened that night…however… NOTHING SURPRISES ME ANYMORE!!!
I guess I like to “think” something more sinister did NOT HAPPEN.
So it’s been 10 yrs….Question for you, Art.
Are you still with the girlfriend?
Look your site,
Lynderella
August 31st, 2007 at 9:14 pm
I was at home when I heard about the accident.After reading all the stories about it. The first thing I thought of was The Kennedy assassination and how things were hidden from us.Some things are now comming out and maybe after all this time so will some things about Princess Diania.I believe there was another car involved but don’t know that it had anything to do with hiding anything.I think the driver panicked and ran.Governments lways hide things they don’t want the average person to know or that might harm their country.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I was lying on the couch dozing that night. I had been watching Andre Rieu on PBS. My husband was in another room watching TV and came into the living room and told me about it. He said they weren’t saying anything about Di’s condition yet, and I said maybe she’s already dead and they just aren’t releasing it. It was such a shock.
I never really believed in the conspiricy theory, but I saw a bit on TV today and they were saying she was given a sedative for the supposed agitation she was experiencing, and that was know for causing heart and I think breathing problems. Then they said the paramedics had to wait 10 minutes to hear from the hospital as to whether or not they would accept her there, which I think is very strange, since it was an emergency, whether or not they were aware it was Di at that time. Also they said they were told to drive slowly, but then you said that usual over there.
In conclusion, they said there was a total of 70 very crucial minutes that were mismangaged from the time of the accident until they got her to the hospital.
From some other things you mention here Art, it does leave one with more than a few doubts. I really don’t know and possibly we’ll never know.
I think she was a much loved princess and was too good for Prince Charles. I also think she was extremely unhappy while married to him. I don’t think the Royal Family ever really accepted her or treated her good.
I remember hearing at the time, she may have been pregnant and was thinking she wasn’t, or didn’t they ever say?
I remember getting up early in the morning to watch the funeral.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I think if you know even the tiniest bit of history regarding the Royal family, the idea of a conspiracy wouldn’t be all that shocking. It’s possible. Was it a conspiracy? I don’t think we’ll ever know.
I was getting ready to go out for the night when I heard about the accident, via CNN. The reporting seemed to indicate that the accident wasn’t serious and that Diana would be alright. The next morning I turned on CNN to read that Diana was dead. I was shocked and saddened. It seemed unreal. I remember crying when I heard and calling my mum to talk to her.
August 31st, 2007 at 11:21 pm
conspiracy no tragic yes. The paparazzi are cockroaches that just never die, they are relentless just to get a photo. Sometimes life is just not fair, and this was one of those times.I still cannot believe it is now 10 years, I still remember the day I woke up and heard the news. There are a few of those days like that remember when President Kennedy died,Bobby died, Marin Luther King ? These were good people too and I guess Heaven had more openings than earth did that day.
August 31st, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Princess Diana was loved and admired all around the world. Her boys loved her the most and even tho her marriage didnt work, she alone has brought the Royal family out of the dark ages by her love for her boys who have already shown the world they are caring, compassionate adults.
Being a nightowl, I saw the whole story play out on CNN etc. I cried for those boys, and the cold world they were left in. But they have grown up to be gentlemen she would be very proud of. It is a sad, sorry thing to happen to anyone for whatever reason. I would hope that it wasnt a put up job like we keep hearing, but there is probably no way it would be brought into the open so we will never know.
Thank you Art, for all the work you did then and that you do now to get the facts out on what is really happening. It is appreciated by so many. Wanda
September 1st, 2007 at 12:30 am
Dear Art,
My conclusion, without reading anything more into this…
the driver was drunk.
September 1st, 2007 at 10:38 am
What shocked me the most, was that Queen Elizabeth had to force herself to eek out even the tiniest drop of compassion and decency when it came to Diana after she died.She had no intention of even returning from holiday at Balmoral. This woman was the mother of her grandchildren, and it must have been disheartening for Harry and William to see thier grandmother had to be admonished by public outcry, to show repect and lower the palace flag to half-staff.And don’t even get me started with her speach to the public dripping with undertones of disdain.
September 1st, 2007 at 11:25 am
In my previous post, I said 70 minutes were mismanaged. What I should have said was 70 out of 2 hours, were mismanaged. I think they said it was 2 hours until she arrived at the hospital. Those 70 minutes certainly could have made a difference.
As for the driver, even if he holds his booze well, that, in my opinion was far too much to be driving. I don’t know how anyone can be in a position as that, and even take one drink before driving. Of course, I don’t know how anyone can do something like that, but they do and keep slaughtering innocent people on our highways all the time.
After reading butterfly’s post, and if what she had seen was based on the truth, it certainly doesn’t sound very good, does it? I believe in coinsidence, but when there are too many, then I start to doubt.
I wasn’t aware Art, until reading this article that a nurse had mysteriously died or any others.
September 1st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
NO ONE WANTS TO BELIEVE THAT THE FAIRY TALE ENDED WITH AN ORDINARY AUTO ACCIDENT INVOLVING A DRUNK DRIVER AND LACK OF SEATBELT USAGE. CHECK THE STATISTICS … THIS SORT OF EVENT HAPPENS ALL TOO OFTEN. SO, TO CONTINUE THE LEGEND A MYSTERY HAD TO BE CREATED … IT WAS … AND MANY GULIBLE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IT … THEY DO.
September 1st, 2007 at 2:13 pm
She could have been saved. But in France they stable the person at the accident then like the USA we stable at the hospital. She should have been taken right away, then to try and stable her on the road. Bottom line DON’T GET IN A ACCIDENT IN FRANCE
September 1st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Art Harris,
‘ princess DI was an amazing woman!
Like all the personality who want talk peace and freedom she despaired!!!!
JFK,ML.ladyDi,John Lennon all despaired!
It can be an accident,it can be a com plot by the fact that they remove everything from Tunnel de l’Alma in witting couples hours!
French ppls didn’t bring her right to the hospital
even if they use to go slow!
” pietre excuse”
Also the fact that Di was represent Mines anti-personals she was loved by population so she ad an mondial influences. She was in love with Dodi elFayed an Egyptian and it was coming serious!
The royal family was afraid that Diana can make a pubic statements,and by the fact put them in a situation that they were not able to control her.
Or it can be an accident,terrible accident!
I was home with friends and it was a choc!
I kept all the “paris match” from this period!
But the worse was 2 princes who lost there loving mother that’s the worst!
September 1st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Get real,
Would they really do that?
There are so many, better ways to shame someone.
The driver was drunk.
September 1st, 2007 at 5:39 pm
THANKS ART, I JUST LOVE YOUR ARTICLES. I THINK THE PAPPARRAZI ARE SOME TO BLAME BUT IT WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. I TOO THINK PRINCESS DIANA WAS WAY TOO MUCH BETTER THAN PRINCE CHARLES. SHE WAS A GOOD WOMAN THAT DID GREAT VOLUNTEER WORK AND RAISED TWO VERY FINE BOYS NOW YOUNG MEN, SHE WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THEM TODAY.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Wow, Art, once again, great work!
I’m not sure I buy that she was pregnant, however given her past interviews in her own words. She felt the royal family was out to get her. How did they really feel about the future King’s mother being married to someone of Dodi’s background & religion? I’m sure this wasn’t taken lightly by the royal family.
I suppose it is easy to blame a drunk driver, however it does seem too convenient given all that had happened in the past. She could have been saved…but wasn’t. Regardless of the circumstances, it was a true tragedy.
Just my opinion.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
French people drink a lot more wine then we do. I mean, it’s the norm to have wine with your dinner, as a night cap, for breakfast, after you brush your teeth, lunch, brunch, afternoon tea…ups, I mean wine, dinner, and on and on. The French are great wine drinkers, we would be laying under the tables had we their zest for the aged grapes in liquid form.
The death of Di was tragic as she was so young , yet her death was, in my opinion, caused by an accident and probably with the interference of the paparazzi and their glaring lights from scooters and probably a car too close. It’s time to lay the speculations to rest, it won’t bring her back accusing and finger pointing. Cheers
September 7th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Dear bleu,
I’ve just been resisting this too, long.
I think I would adore moving to France.
I have a really good cook book, from over therrrrr….
Bistro, and …. well, anyway…
What a beautiful tongue.
French, just sounds good, no matter what they mean to say.
Seems, it’s a language of love.