10 Facts About Princess Diana's Death That Will Blow Your Mind

Publish date: 2024-05-03

Princess Diana has been one of the most impactful personalities around the world, and here are some crazy facts about the death of the People’s Princess that shook everyone to their core.

Born at Park House in Sandringham, English, Diana was childhood playmates of Prince Edward and Prince Andrew, the Queen’s youngest children. The daughter of the 7th Earl Spencer, she became friends with Prince Charles in 1980, and within a year, the pair were engaged. Diana’s beauty and kindness made her an instant media sensation and an icon for her grace and elegance. After eleven years of marriage, Prince Charles and Princess Diana formally separated before finalizing their divorce in 1996.

Even after the divorce and losing the title of Her Royal Highness, Princess Diana remained popular and made appearances through her charity work. Due to her compassion and humility, she became known as the People’s Princess. The world was shaken on 31 August 1997 when the news of her death was announced, causing hysteria. Let’s look at some crazy facts about the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

10 She Was On A Vacation In Europe

In July 1997, Princess Diana was first linked to Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed before they were spotted on vacation the following month. En route to London, the couple stopped in Paris and climbed aboard the Jonikal, Fayed’s private yacht. She was in St. Tropez before going to Paris with Prince William and Prince Harry.

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9 She Died In A Car Crash In Paris

Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed were staying at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. After discovering more than 30 photographers waiting, they decided to go to Fayed’s apartment. The car was driven by an intoxicated driver Henri Paul, whose respective bodyguards accompanied the two. With a hoard of paparazzi chasing after them, the driver lost control at the entrance of the Pont de l’Alma tunnel and crashed into a pillar.

8 A Responder heard her Last Words

Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul were announced dead soon after the firefighters arrived, while the Princess and Fayed’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones were conscious but injured. Jones was the only person wearing a seatbelt during the ride. Firefighter Xavier Gourmelon massaged Diana’s heart until she was breathing again. Her final words were, ‘My God, what has happened?’

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7 Her Injury Was Rare And Small

After being admitted to the La Pitie Salpetriere Hospital, Princess Diana did not gain consciousness and died of internal bleeding. She was pronounced dead in the early hours of 31 August 1997. A study later revealed that the cause of her death was a tear in the vein of her lung. The injury was easily preventable if she wore a seatbelt.

6 There Are Many Speculations About The Accident

There were many speculations regarding the accident. Dodi Fayed’s father, Mohammed al-Fayed, claimed it was a deliberate murder orchestrated by MI6 Agents. At the same time, a butler published a note reportedly written by Princess Diana that Prince Charles was planning a car accident. These theories were later debunked after police investigations in 2004.

5 Britain Was Deeply Shocked By Her Sudden Loss

While the family was away at Balmoral, thousands of people left mementos, flowers, and photos outside Buckingham Palace to honor her life. The Royal family later went around the palace gates to look at the gifts splayed around for the late Princess. The sudden death sent a shock wave in the UK and worldwide.

RELATED: 20 Little Known Facts About Princess Diana That Only Came To Light Recently

4 Prince William And Prince Harry Were Kept Recluse From Media

As per Royal tradition, the family was at Balmoral Castle for the summer break when the news of Princess Diana’s death shocked the world. The Queen decided to keep Prince William and Prince Harry in Scotland for a few days. They were allowed to mourn and were shielded from the media to have their space.

3 The Queen Addressed The Nation After Five Days Of Her Death

The Queen stayed back at Balmoral Castle with the Princes and had planned to return to London before the funeral. The Royal family came under deep scrutiny when the Queen did not address the mourning nation immediately after the accident. Five days after the death, she made her first broadcast live since the Gulf War in 1991.

2 Her Funeral Had Billions Of Viewers

While 750 million people watched Princess Diana marry Prince Charles, her funeral had a record total of 2.5 billion viewers. It has been recorded as one of the most-watched incidents in history. In now-controversial footage, young Prince William and Prince Harry were seen walking behind their mother’s coffin to the Westminster Cathedral for the funeral proceedings.

1 There Was A Statue Made In Her Honor

On 01 July 2021, Princess Diana would have been 60 years of age. To commemorate the Princess, a statue was unveiled by Prince William and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace in the Sunken Garden. The statue was situated at her favorite spot and commissioned to honor the philanthropic work she had done for the people.

Princess Diana’s funeral was an emotional affair where Elton John changed a few lyrics and dedicated the song Candle In The Wind to the former monarch. No figure in this world has had a bigger impact than Diana, from her fashion to compassion, and her legacy lives on long after her untimely death.

Sources: People, Parade, Insider, Harper’s Bazaar

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