This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7105742.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Diana 'feared calls were tapped' | Diana 'feared calls were tapped' |
| (30 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. |
| Meanwhile, a French police chief said he was told of claims the crash was "suspicious" soon after it happened. | |
| Patrick Riou, who was regional director of the Judicial Police in Paris at the time, said the claims were made by the president of the Ritz hotel, Franz Klein, and his assistant, Claude Roulet. | |
| They visited him 16 hours after the crash in August 1997 in which Diana, Mr Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul died, he said. | |
| Mr Riou told the hearing in London: "The visit of Mr Klein and Roulet was twofold. | |
| 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 | |
| "One, they informed me that the Al Fayed family wanted the body of Dodi Al Fayed to be immediately repatriated to the United Kingdom that day. | |
| "Two, these two visitors said to me, that they had received, that day, from London, without any further details, information according to which the National French Police had information to the effect that the death of Mr Dodi Al Fayed was suspicious." | |
| Mr Riou said at the time he had not received any official information from the British police and the allegations made were "extremely vague". | |
| 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. |
| 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 Katharine WittySpokeswoman for Mohamed Al Fayed | |
| 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. |
| The former accountant said Diana was "her normal bubbly self" when they spoke two days before her death, but had not mentioned any engagement to Mr Al Fayed. | |
| Mohamed Al Fayed believes his son and Diana were murdered | Mohamed Al Fayed believes his son and Diana were murdered |
| Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Harrods owner Mr Al Fayed has criticised coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker for suggesting 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |