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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| C4 rebuffs Diana photographs plea | C4 rebuffs Diana photographs plea |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Channel 4 will broadcast photos of the crash that killed Princess Diana despite a plea from her sons. | Channel 4 will broadcast photos of the crash that killed Princess Diana despite a plea from her sons. |
| Prince William and Prince Harry's private secretary wrote to the channel saying they felt it would be a "gross disrespect" to their mother's memory. | Prince William and Prince Harry's private secretary wrote to the channel saying they felt it would be a "gross disrespect" to their mother's memory. |
| Channel 4 said it decided to run the images in the documentary on Wednesday after considering the princes' concerns against wider public interest. | Channel 4 said it decided to run the images in the documentary on Wednesday after considering the princes' concerns against wider public interest. |
| The pictures by French photographers are of the August 1997 crash in Paris. | The pictures by French photographers are of the August 1997 crash in Paris. |
| Diana, 36, Dodi Al Fayed, 42, and driver Henri Paul were killed when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris as they drove away from paparazzi after leaving the Ritz Hotel. | Diana, 36, Dodi Al Fayed, 42, and driver Henri Paul were killed when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris as they drove away from paparazzi after leaving the Ritz Hotel. |
| 'Public interest' | 'Public interest' |
| The letter from the princes' private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, was sent to Hamish Mykura, head of history, science and religion at Channel 4, last Friday. | The letter from the princes' private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, was sent to Hamish Mykura, head of history, science and religion at Channel 4, last Friday. |
| Mr Lowther-Pinkerton wrote: "If it were your or my mother dying in that tunnel, would we want the scene broadcast to the nation? Indeed, would the nation so want it?" | Mr Lowther-Pinkerton wrote: "If it were your or my mother dying in that tunnel, would we want the scene broadcast to the nation? Indeed, would the nation so want it?" |
| In particular, the letter asked Channel 4 to remove several images of the crashed car with Diana still inside and of a medic treating her. | In particular, the letter asked Channel 4 to remove several images of the crashed car with Diana still inside and of a medic treating her. |
| What we don't do is cross the line of showing the dead or the injured Hamish MykuraChannel 4 Princes' letter: Full text | |
| "These photographs, regardless of the fact that they do not actually show the princess's features, are redolent with the atmosphere and tragedy of the closing moments of her life," Mr Lowther-Pinkerton added. | "These photographs, regardless of the fact that they do not actually show the princess's features, are redolent with the atmosphere and tragedy of the closing moments of her life," Mr Lowther-Pinkerton added. |
| He said the broadcaster had been unwilling to allow the princes to view the documentary, called Diana: The Witnesses In The Tunnel. | |
| So he watched it last week and briefed the princes on its content. | |
| The BBC's royal correspondent, Nicholas Witchell, said he believed the letter was instigated by Prince William. | |
| He said the second-in-line to the throne was taking a stand and making sure his and Harry's objections were known. | |
| 'Eyewitness account' | |
| Others to criticise the channel include shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire, who wants the images removed from the documentary. | |
| Last week, a friend of Diana's, Rosa Monckton, and Katharine Witty, a representative for Mohamed Al Fayed, accused programme commissioners of using the death to try to boost ratings. | Last week, a friend of Diana's, Rosa Monckton, and Katharine Witty, a representative for Mohamed Al Fayed, accused programme commissioners of using the death to try to boost ratings. |
| They believe the broadcast of these photographs to be wholly inappropriate Clarence House, on behalf of the princes | |
| Head of Channel 4 Julian Bellamy said it had not intended to cause William and Harry distress and did not believe its decision was disrespectful to the memory of the princess. | Head of Channel 4 Julian Bellamy said it had not intended to cause William and Harry distress and did not believe its decision was disrespectful to the memory of the princess. |
| He said the programme went no further visually or in tone than many previous British TV and newspaper reports. | He said the programme went no further visually or in tone than many previous British TV and newspaper reports. |
| "We have weighed the princes' concerns against the legitimate public interest we believe there is in the subject of this documentary and in the still photography it includes," he said. | "We have weighed the princes' concerns against the legitimate public interest we believe there is in the subject of this documentary and in the still photography it includes," he said. |
| He added that photos and interviews provided the "most detailed and credible eyewitness account yet delivered" of the crash. | He added that photos and interviews provided the "most detailed and credible eyewitness account yet delivered" of the crash. |
| And Channel 4's Hamish Mykura, who commissioned the programme, said the film was not disrespectful to the memory of the princess. | |
| "What we don't do is cross the line of showing the dead or the injured," he said. | |
| Clarence House said William and Harry felt they had no choice but to make their feelings public. | Clarence House said William and Harry felt they had no choice but to make their feelings public. |
| The statement from the household said: "In publishing the letter, the princes reluctantly feel that they have been left no choice but to make it clear publicly that they believe the broadcast of these photographs to be wholly inappropriate, deeply distressing to them and to the relatives of the others who died that night, and a gross disrespect to their mother's memory." | The statement from the household said: "In publishing the letter, the princes reluctantly feel that they have been left no choice but to make it clear publicly that they believe the broadcast of these photographs to be wholly inappropriate, deeply distressing to them and to the relatives of the others who died that night, and a gross disrespect to their mother's memory." |