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| Diana 'feared calls were tapped' | Diana 'feared calls were tapped' |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| It was "clear" that Princess Diana feared her calls were being monitored in the months before her death, her former private secretary has said. | It was "clear" that Princess Diana feared her calls were being monitored in the months before her death, her former private secretary has said. |
| Michael Gibbins told her inquest at the High Court that Diana changed her phone number because of her concerns. | Michael Gibbins told her inquest at the High Court that Diana changed her phone number because of her concerns. |
| He also said he detected disapproval within the royal household about her lovers, including Dodi Al Fayed. | He also said he detected disapproval within the royal household about her lovers, including Dodi Al Fayed. |
| Mr Gibbins, a former accountant, said Diana was "her normal bubbly self" when they spoke two days before her death. | Mr Gibbins, a former accountant, said Diana was "her normal bubbly self" when they spoke two days before her death. |
| But he told the hearing in London that she had not mentioned any engagement to Mr Al Fayed. | But he told the hearing in London that she had not mentioned any engagement to Mr Al Fayed. |
| Diana and Mr Al Fayed died along with their driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. | Diana and Mr Al Fayed died along with their driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in August 1997. |
| Royal 'disapproval' | Royal 'disapproval' |
| Mr Gibbins, who worked for the princess for just over a year, said he warned her about the potentially negative reaction to her decision to take Princes William and Harry on holiday with the Al Fayed family in the summer of 1997. | Mr Gibbins, who worked for the princess for just over a year, said he warned her about the potentially negative reaction to her decision to take Princes William and Harry on holiday with the Al Fayed family in the summer of 1997. |
| But he smiled as he recalled her apparent lack of concern. | But he smiled as he recalled her apparent lack of concern. |
| Asked by Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed, what her reaction had been, he said: "I don't think there was much of a reaction." | Asked by Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed, what her reaction had been, he said: "I don't think there was much of a reaction." |
| He agreed that there was disapproval in "some quarters" about Diana's relationships with men, whom Mr Mansfield listed as including Major James Hewitt and rugby player Will Carling. | He agreed that there was disapproval in "some quarters" about Diana's relationships with men, whom Mr Mansfield listed as including Major James Hewitt and rugby player Will Carling. |
| Her actions were such, in terms of changing her telephone number, that it was clear that that was a concern to her Michael GibbinsDiana's former private secretary | Her actions were such, in terms of changing her telephone number, that it was clear that that was a concern to her Michael GibbinsDiana's former private secretary |
| And he said that some of her causes such as the landmine campaign were raising eyebrows in some areas. | And he said that some of her causes such as the landmine campaign were raising eyebrows in some areas. |
| Mr Mansfield asked whether disapproval was coming not just from the tabloid press but the royal household itself. | Mr Mansfield asked whether disapproval was coming not just from the tabloid press but the royal household itself. |
| Mr Gibbins said: "I'm not sure that I was directly aware of that but by inference certainly." | Mr Gibbins said: "I'm not sure that I was directly aware of that but by inference certainly." |
| Asked whether Diana feared her calls were being monitored, he said: "She never expressed that concern, but her actions were such, in terms of changing her telephone number, that it was clear that that was a concern to her, yes." | Asked whether Diana feared her calls were being monitored, he said: "She never expressed that concern, but her actions were such, in terms of changing her telephone number, that it was clear that that was a concern to her, yes." |
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts |
| Mr Gibbins also spoke about the atmosphere of grief and shock at Kensington Palace immediately after the crash. | Mr Gibbins also spoke about the atmosphere of grief and shock at Kensington Palace immediately after the crash. |
| He told of calls back and forth to Balmoral, where the Queen was on holiday, and recounted how Diana's staff arrived in the early hours of the morning. | He told of calls back and forth to Balmoral, where the Queen was on holiday, and recounted how Diana's staff arrived in the early hours of the morning. |
| He said her "distraught" butler Paul Burrell insisted on going to Paris immediately to "look after" the princess, even though there appeared no obvious reason for him to go. | He said her "distraught" butler Paul Burrell insisted on going to Paris immediately to "look after" the princess, even though there appeared no obvious reason for him to go. |
| Diana was not wearing a seatbelt when her Mercedes crashed, but Mr Gibbins said she had always insisted on wearing one and made him do likewise when they travelled together. | Diana was not wearing a seatbelt when her Mercedes crashed, but Mr Gibbins said she had always insisted on wearing one and made him do likewise when they travelled together. |
| Mohamed Al Fayed believes his son and Diana were murdered | |
| Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Harrods owner Mr Al Fayed accused the coroner at the inquest of having a "fit of pique". | |
| She spoke after Lord Justice Scott Baker said he may appeal against a ruling blocking the use of statements from French paparazzi. | |
| Katharine Witty, director of press and public affairs at Harrods, said: "The coroner said that he was concerned about further time and money being expended as a result of this judicial review. | |
| "However, he is now appealing a decision made swiftly by two High Court judges which will mean further time and taxpayers' money being expended on this. | |
| "This strikes us as a fit of pique by somebody who has been over-ruled by the High Court judges who were only upholding the law." |