Picture this: it’s late summer in Paris, 1997. Lights flash like distant lightning as a sleek black car drives away from the Ritz Hotel. Who’s inside you may ask? Only Diana, Princess of Whales, and her companion Dodi Fayed. Beneath their assumed glamour lies a mix of fear, excitement, and a pursuit for answers. Seconds after, the Mercedes wrecks in the Pont de I’Alma tunnel. Time freezing for a moment as the world holds its breath.

Now, almost thirty years later, the idea of what happened that night seems to be clear- but yet, certain details refuse to rest. While officials have concluded again and again that her death was a tragic accident, others are skeptical. So let’s dive into the facts and find out together what actually happened to Diana on August 31st, 1997.

The Official Investigation:

After inquiries in both France and Great Britain, a few key facts aligned in both. Henri Paul, Diana’s driver the night of the crash, had a blood-alcohol test that read more than three times the legal limit. This is what was assumed to be the reason for the car they were in to be going 60-70 MPH in a 30 MPH zone. It is also believed that Diana and Dodi were both riding without seatbelts on. With a combination of these events, the crash was presented as a tragic accident. Yet even this clear-cut ending does leave room for a few “wait how..” and “why’s”.

Small Details That Caused Big Questions:

Here are a few examples of holes in the original story:

• An unseen second vehicle was believed to have been near the car at the time of the crash. Though there is no definitive video or surveillance footage, chipped paint from a white Fiat Uno did appear on the car after the time of the crash.
• In a 1995 letter to her butler, Diana expressed her feelings of a feared “planned” crash. Still, we’re left wondering if this was a distressed letter due to a constant life under the public lens, or something persistent.
• Eyewitness recollections vary by the minute, leaving us wondering if the paparazzi actually swarmed their car before or after the crash ocured.

Three Theories at a Glance:

Some believe that Diana’s death was not an accident at all, and that in fact, it was planned by the British Royal Family itself. Diana had spoken out publicly about her fear of being killed. Because of her relationship with Dodi Fayed, the royal family was not happy with Diana. With their refusal to have a Muslim man as Prince William and Harry’s stepfather, it is assumed by many that this was part of a larger plan to stop Diana from marrying the Egyptian billionaire.

Another layer of this theories appeared when rumors that Diana was pregnant with his child surfaced. However, post-mortem exams found no evidenced of pregnancy. Friends and relatives of Diana also came out to say that she was never planning on marrying Dodi Fayed and that it was “something fun, but not serious”.

One of the strangest parts of the investigation was definitely the reports of the white Fiat Uno that was seen in the tunnel at the same time as the crash. Paint marks on the car suggested that there could have been a second vehicle that caused the collision. Though the car and the driver were never identified, some speculate that this car deliberately caused the crash.

So, What Remains Unclear?

While foul play was mainly ruled out, the factors of Diana expressing her fear about her safety, the presence of the Fiat Uno, and conflicting eyewitness testimonies, continue to fan the flame of what is real and what is fake. The balance between documented evidence and the unknown of that night leaves a reasonable amount of room for skepticism and acceptance.

Our Captivation:

Here’s what lies in the middle of it all: every explanation fits the known facts, yet every answer provided brings up another question. Diana lived in the spotlight, navigating her royal life of crazed paparazzi and protocols. In her final moments, she was once again stuck between those very things- glamour and speed. The official investigation reads “coincidence” or “accident”, but the small loopholes keep us guessing. And perhaps we’ll never know what happened in that tunnel, but maybe that’s fitting for Diana. Her life was full of mystery and complexity, mixed with clarity and compassion. It seems only right that her final story remains, in part, and open question. Thanks for reading and tune in to the next one for more facts, fiction, and theories that will leave you guessing.