Read the full transcripts of the Diana inquest

The inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, has begun to reveal some of her most intimate details – including evidence she was on the contraceptive pill at the time of her death.

The jury hearing evidence about Diana’s death was told they will have to consider whether she was pregnant, whether or not she was poised to get engaged, and whether her body was embalmed unlawfully after she died alongside her boyfriend Dodi al-Fayed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997.

Concluding his opening address at the inquest at London’s High Court, the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker, addressed Mohamed Al Fayed’s claims that the couple were murdered by MI6 under the orders of the Duke of Edinburgh because they believed the Princess was pregnant and might have been about to remarry.

A Perrier with the Princess

Peter Stothard, former Editor of The Times, recalls a discussion with Diana about memos, mistresses and the media

Multimedia

• Interview on the latest revealing Diana biography

BACKGROUND

• The explosion of vileness that followed her death

• Why I could not mourn Diana

Related Internet Links

• Diana - 10 years on

Related Links

• Q&A: the Diana inquest

• ‘Diana decision is yours alone’

Multimedia

• Pictures: Diana inquest - the car crash

“First, her pregnancy or suspected pregnancy is said to have provided the motive or part of the motive for killing Diana,” the coroner told the jury.

“Second, her body was embalmed by the French and it is said that the purpose of this was to conceal that she was pregnant.”

He said the jury would be unlikely to come to any scientific conclusion about the Princess’s alleged pregnancy because of conflicting facts.

According to the coroner, Diana had not given any indication to her doctor, family, friends or associates that she was pregnant, and no pregnancy test was carried out on at the hospital where she was taken on the night she died because there appeared to be no reason to do so.

“It is likely pregnancy is not a matter that can be proved one way or the other in scientific terms,” the coroner said.

He also told the 11 members of the jury that he hoped to call Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell to give evidence in person to address many of the areas of dispute.

And he highlighted questions over samples taken from the couple’s driver Henri Paul’s body which might appear “puzzling”.

The jury of six woman and five men, are expected to watch footage this afternoon of Mr Paul on his way to the car to meet Diana and Dodi, as well as a tourist video showing the atmosphere outside the Ritz Hotel as the paparazzi waited for the Princess, to help set the scene of that fateful night in Paris.

The CCTV footage of Mr Paul shows him walking in and around the Ritz before he got behind the wheel of the Mercedes. The bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was the only survivor of the crash, but he has no recollection of what happened.

According to the coroner Mr Paul is seen walking down some stairs, bending down to tie his shoelaces, then standing up and walking away with no problems of balance - not the kind of behaviour of someone who is drunk.

Two previous investigations into the crash found the accident was caused by Mr Paul driving too fast under the influence of alcohol.

Other footage expected to be shown this afternoon was taken by Australian tourist Chloe Papazahariakis, who has reportedly been called to give evidence.

Ms Papazahariakis and her friend Vlad Borovac were filming the paparazzi waiting for Diana and Dodi outside the Ritz, and the footage shows the atmosphere around the hotel before the crash.

Mohamed Al Fayed was in court this morning to hear the second day of the inquest, which is expected to last six months.

The Spencer family has been represented by Diana’s sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale, who was yesterday accompanied to court by Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the part-time private secretary to Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry.

Henri Paul’s parents Gisele and Jean are also believed to be attending the inquest.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The bright side of this winter rain
• Story behind the picture: Snow Leopard, 2008
• Times Charity Appeal: The Place2Be