Cultured Views

August 31st 1997…Who is to blame?.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Most people recall where they were and what they were doing when the news filtered in from Paris that Diana, Princess of Wales, had been involved in a high speed car crash.
I know where I was at the precise moment that her car crashed…in bed on that Sunday morning reading the Sun Herald. The accident occurred just after midnight which was just after 9am Sydney time.
But it wasn’t until an hour or so later that the first reports came over the news.
Then, just after midday, came the news that she had died.

I had been watching the coverage at lunchtime of the tunnel, the flashing lights and the mangled mess of the car. My Mum came out of her room and said that it had just come over the radio; ‘They’ve just confirmed that the Princess of Wales is dead…isn’t it terrible?’. And this was all happening while the UK was still asleep and unaware.

It’s safe to say that nearly everyone has an opinion on what happened that night and who did what and who was responsible. Some accused the CIA, M16 even the IRA. But many instantly pointed their fingers at The Royal Family. Today Mr Al Fayed Sr has won the case to have the Inquiry heard in front of a jury, and his finger is pointed firmly in Prince Phillips direction.
Why? And why does he accept no liability whatsoever in the chain of events that occurred that night and the days leading up to them.

I find this whole saga so sad and yet intriguing. I am of the opinion that Diana fell into a trap set by the Al Fayeds. But lets look at facts:
It was a known fact that Mr Al Fayed actively encouraged his son’s courting of Diana, and, it is also a known fact that he purchased the luxury yacht, that Diana and Dodi were so famously photographed on in their final days, specifically so that Dodi could achieve this aim. To Mr Al Fayed, Diana would be the greatest acquisition his son could make and would, in his mind, ensure his acceptance into The Establishment. He already owned one great British institution in Harrods…Diana was to be next.

Lets remember the events of that night. Diana dined at an Al Fayed hotel (The Ritz), she was with an Al Fayed son (Dodi), accompanied by an Al Fayed employed bodyguard (Trevor Rhys Jones…isn’t he very quiet these days?), got into an Al Fayed owned car driven by an Al Fayed employed driver.

Excuse me but, where does Prince Phillip come into any of this - especially as it was confirmed that Dodi changed their travel route at the last minute.

Diana was pulled from pillar to post in the days leading up to and including that night. With minimal security and in a way that completely went against her experience with Royal security. This accident would not have happened if Dodi and Daddy were not in charge Im sure.

If anyone should be pointing the finger it is my opinion that it should be her two sons and the Spencer family - at Mr Al Fayed Snr. For failing to ensure her safety - Diana was no ordinary VIP - for failing to employ the strongest security available, for encouraging his son to parade her around like a flashy new car.

One last thing, let’s speculate here…what if Diana and Dodi HAD been wearing their seatbelts and both survived the crash, albeit badly injured, but lived nonetheless.
It would have been a whole different story today. Yes, of course a major inquiry would have been held, but, with Diana’s testimony and version of the events that night I doubt Mr Al Fayed would be in a position now to be making accusations.

It is my opinion that he would be standing today with a large fingerprint on his forehead. Diana’s.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Spread the Word: