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| Legal arguments at Diana hearing | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A preliminary hearing has begun at the High Court ahead of a full inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. | A preliminary hearing has begun at the High Court ahead of a full inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. |
| A Metropolitan Police investigation concluded last month that the 1997 car crash in Paris in which Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died was a tragic accident. | A Metropolitan Police investigation concluded last month that the 1997 car crash in Paris in which Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died was a tragic accident. |
| Coroner Lady Butler-Sloss is holding the hearing in public after initially deciding it would be held in private. | Coroner Lady Butler-Sloss is holding the hearing in public after initially deciding it would be held in private. |
| She will decide whether there will be a joint inquest for the pair, and if there should be a jury present. | She will decide whether there will be a joint inquest for the pair, and if there should be a jury present. |
| As the proceedings got under way, Lady Butler-Sloss offered her "deepest sympathy" to the relatives and friends of the princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42. | |
| The Princess of Wales's sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, were present for the start of the two-day hearing. | |
| Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed, who is being represented by Michael Mansfield QC, was also in court. | |
| There had been a delay in the inquest proceedings following extensive investigations into the crash, said Lady Butler-Sloss. | |
| "The police were asked to provide a separate report to assist the coroner," she said. | |
| "As soon as I receive the coroner's report, I expect to make arrangements for hearing the inquests." | |
| Tunnel crash | Tunnel crash |
| BBC Royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the onus at the hearing would be on the legal team representing Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed to prove why a jury would be needed. | |
| The princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42, died when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997. | The princess, 36, and Mr Al Fayed, 42, died when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on 31 August 1997. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss must decide if a jury is needed | Lady Butler-Sloss must decide if a jury is needed |
| They were pursued by paparazzi photographers after leaving the Ritz Hotel for Mr Al Fayed's apartment. | |
| A three-year inquiry, led by former Met Police chief Lord Stevens, found no evidence of a conspiracy to murder the couple. | A three-year inquiry, led by former Met Police chief Lord Stevens, found no evidence of a conspiracy to murder the couple. |
| The inquiry report said chauffeur Henri Paul, who also died, was speeding and over the legal drink-drive limit. | The inquiry report said chauffeur Henri Paul, who also died, was speeding and over the legal drink-drive limit. |
| The police investigation was requested by royal coroner Michael Burgess when the inquests were opened and adjourned in January 2004. | The police investigation was requested by royal coroner Michael Burgess when the inquests were opened and adjourned in January 2004. |
| Mr Burgess subsequently stepped down blaming a heavy workload. | Mr Burgess subsequently stepped down blaming a heavy workload. |
| Mohamed Al Fayed said Lord Stevens' "highly unsatisfactory" report left questions "unanswered". | |
| He mounted a legal challenge for the preliminary hearing into the inquest to be held in public. | |
| UK law states inquests must be held in public but early hearings need not be. | UK law states inquests must be held in public but early hearings need not be. |
| Lady Butler-Sloss was said to have been persuaded to change her mind because of public interest in the case. | Lady Butler-Sloss was said to have been persuaded to change her mind because of public interest in the case. |
| Speaking before the hearing began, a spokesman for Mohamed Al Fayed said: "He is hoping for openness and transparency and the appointment of a jury of ordinary people so that all the facts can be put before the British people." |