How Did Princess Diana Die? The Truth About the Heartbreaking Crash That Took the Life of the People's Princess
Princess Diana's death shook the entire world.
A paparazzi pursuit of one of the planet's most famous and beloved figures proved deadly, and many questions and conspiracy theories remain about her tragic passing—though none have any basis in fact, according to experts and investigators.
Here is the truth about Princess Diana's crash and how Princess Diana died, coming on the heels of the 25th anniversary of the day that the People's Princess was taken far too soon.
How did Princess Diana die?
Princess Diana died from injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred near midnight on Aug. 31, 1997.
In an effort to evade the photographers who hounded her every move, Diana's driver, Henri Paul, was under the influence and speeding at nearly twice the posted limit in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. He lost control of the vehicle carrying the People's Princess, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and their bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, and crashed into a wall of the tunnel, then into a pillar supporting the structure. Fayed and Paul were killed instantly. Diana was still alive, and emergency services arrived to the scene within five minutes and transported her to a hospital, but she wouldn't survive. She ultimately succumbed to her injuries at 4:53 a.m. on Aug. 31, 1997.
What injuries did Princess Diana die from? How did Diana die in a car crash?
Diana suffered from a concussion, broken arm and a cut to her thigh in the crash, but what ultimately took her life were her severe chest wounds. Her heart was displaced in her chest and she suffered a tear to her pulmonary vein that proved lethal and caused internal bleeding. After several hours in the operating room, surgeons were unable to get her heart to beat properly. It's been speculated that if Diana had been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, she may have survived with only relatively minor injuries.
Who was in the car when Princess Diana died?
Princess Diana and her boyfriend, film producer Dodi Fayed, were in the rear passenger seats of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz W140 S-Class where they spent their final waking moments. Trevor Rees-Jones, a security detail for the Fayed family, was in the front passenger seat. Henri Paul, deputy head of security at the Hôtel Ritz Paris (a property owned by Fayed's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed), was behind the wheel. Rees-Jones was the only survivor from the crash.
Who drove the car that killed Diana?
Paul was behind the wheel during the crash that killed Princess Diana. His blood-alcohol level was reportedly three times over the French legal limit at the time of the fatal accident.
How old was Princess Diana when she died?
Princess Diana was 36 years old at the time of her death.
What were Princess Diana's last words?
According to a firefighter who responded to the crash site, Diana's last words were, “My God, what has happened?”
Related: Before She Died In August 1997, These Were Princess Diana's Final Words
Who was Princess Diana's boyfriend when she died?
At the time of her death, Princess Diana was dating Dodi Fayed, a film producer and son of Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed.
How long was Diana with Dodi?
According to reports, Diana and Fayed were only together for about a month when they were killed in the tragic crash. There is speculation that it was merely a fling for them both, as Fayed was engaged to model Kelly Fisher in July 1997, a month before the accident.
What clothes were Princess Diana buried in?
According to Andrew Morton's biography Diana: Her True Story In Her Own Words, she was buried in a long-sleeved black wool Catherine Walker cocktail dress, black pantyhose and black heels. She was buried with several photographs of Prince Williamand Prince Harry, as well as rosary beads she received from Mother Teresa.
Where is Princess Diana buried?
Princess Diana is buried on the Spencer Estate grounds in Althorp Park. Her grave is on an island in a decorative, man-made lake to ensure her family and close friends can mourn her peacefully and privately.
Related: Can You Visit Princess Diana's Grave?
Why was Princess Diana buried in a lead coffin?
Princess Diana was buried in a lead coffin as a matter of British royal tradition, but also for a somewhat practical reason as well: lead-lined caskets reportedly preserve bodies longer than traditional wooden ones because they are air-tight.
Was Princess Diana cremated?
Diana was buried, not cremated.
Did the Queen cry at Diana's funeral?
Queen Elizabeth IIreportedly bowed her head at Diana's funeral but did not publicly shed any tears, but it wasn't personal: The famously stoic royal matriarch rarely ever grieves publicly, even for those closest to her.
