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Jury sees duke's letters to Diana Jury sees duke's letters to Diana
(about 1 hour later)
Letters between Princess Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh have been shown to the jury at the inquest into her death.Letters between Princess Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh have been shown to the jury at the inquest into her death.
In one, Prince Philip said he would do his best to help Prince Charles and Diana but admitted he had "no talents" as a marriage counsellor.In one, Prince Philip said he would do his best to help Prince Charles and Diana but admitted he had "no talents" as a marriage counsellor.
The princess replied that she disagreed and wrote that Philip was "very modest" about his marriage guidance skills.The princess replied that she disagreed and wrote that Philip was "very modest" about his marriage guidance skills.
Mohamed Al Fayed has claimed the duke was behind a plot to murder Diana and his son Dodi before they got married.Mohamed Al Fayed has claimed the duke was behind a plot to murder Diana and his son Dodi before they got married.
Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died in a car crash in a Paris road tunnel in August 1997.Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died in a car crash in a Paris road tunnel in August 1997.
'Particularly touched''Particularly touched'
The letters were produced to the inquest by the duke's private secretary, Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis.The letters were produced to the inquest by the duke's private secretary, Brigadier Sir Miles Hunt-Davis.
Prince Philip wrote: "If invited, I will always do my utmost to help you and Charles to the best of my ability, but I am quite ready to concede that I have no talents as a marriage counsellor!!!"Prince Philip wrote: "If invited, I will always do my utmost to help you and Charles to the best of my ability, but I am quite ready to concede that I have no talents as a marriage counsellor!!!"
Diana replied: "Dearest Pa, I was particularly touched by your most recent letter which proved to me, if I didn't already know it, that you really do care.Diana replied: "Dearest Pa, I was particularly touched by your most recent letter which proved to me, if I didn't already know it, that you really do care.
"You are very modest about your marriage guidance skills and I disagree with you."You are very modest about your marriage guidance skills and I disagree with you.
"This latest letter of yours showed great understanding and tact and I hope to be able to draw on your advice in the months ahead.""This latest letter of yours showed great understanding and tact and I hope to be able to draw on your advice in the months ahead."
'Curtail relationship''Curtail relationship'
Michael Mansfield QC, representing Harrods owner Mr Al Fayed, asked Brig Hunt-Davis if he ever heard of an alleged fear of Diana's that Prince Philip wanted her dead.Michael Mansfield QC, representing Harrods owner Mr Al Fayed, asked Brig Hunt-Davis if he ever heard of an alleged fear of Diana's that Prince Philip wanted her dead.
The brigadier replied: "I did not ever hear that. And in view of the correspondence we have seen today, I am very surprised that it was even suggested."The brigadier replied: "I did not ever hear that. And in view of the correspondence we have seen today, I am very surprised that it was even suggested."
Mr Mansfield suggested that the Royal Family was concerned at Diana "cavorting on a yacht in the Mediterranean with the son of somebody who was regarded as undesirable".
The general feeling throughout was of a father-in-law doing his very best to help his daughter-in-law resolve the problems that she and the Prince of Wales were having with their marriage Brig Hunt-DavisThe general feeling throughout was of a father-in-law doing his very best to help his daughter-in-law resolve the problems that she and the Prince of Wales were having with their marriage Brig Hunt-Davis
Mr Mansfield suggested that the Royal Family was concerned at Diana "cavorting on a yacht in the Mediterranean with the son of somebody who was regarded as undesirable".
Brig Hunt-Davis said: "The divorce was in August 1996. The lady concerned ceased to be a member of the Royal Family. That is all I am going to say."Brig Hunt-Davis said: "The divorce was in August 1996. The lady concerned ceased to be a member of the Royal Family. That is all I am going to say."
Mr Mansfield continued: "I suggest that by the end of August (1997) there was a desire by the establishment that this relationship and her activities should be curtailed."Mr Mansfield continued: "I suggest that by the end of August (1997) there was a desire by the establishment that this relationship and her activities should be curtailed."
Brig Hunt-Davis said he "could not accept that."Brig Hunt-Davis said he "could not accept that."
He added: "There was no indication whatever from my experience. I admit my experience is limited, but I can't believe that was the case."He added: "There was no indication whatever from my experience. I admit my experience is limited, but I can't believe that was the case."
Private nature 'Thoughtful and kind'
The coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, said the letters did not disclose anything to support suggestions that they contained "unpleasant, nasty or insulting" material. Just the beginning and end of each correspondence - from between June and September 1992 - was shown in order to protect the private nature of their full contents.
Therefore just the beginning and end of each letter was shown in order to protect the private nature of their contents. Rosa Monckton, a confidante of the princess, told the inquest allegations by Mohamed Al Fayed that she became friendly with Diana so she could pass on information to MI6 were "absolute fantasy".
The correspondence consisted of Prince Philip's typewritten letters and Diana's handwritten replies between June and September 1992. Ms Monckton, who met Diana in 1992, said the princess felt isolated from her husband and was very upset about her children.
Brig Hunt-Davis said the duke had released a statement saying that he had not written anything to the princess "which was in the least way" as described in press reports. "She was convinced her husband was seeing Camilla Parker-Bowles and she didn't see there was any way she could get him back," she said.
When asked whether it was common for the duke to release such a statement, the brigadier replied: "To my knowledge, it was the first time it has ever happened - and the last." Ian Burnett QC, counsel for the inquest, said there had been suggestions that Prince Philip wrote "nasty" letters to the princess.
Ms Monckton replied: "Absolutely not at all. On the contrary, they were very thoughtful, kind, intelligent and considered letters."
She told the inquest: "She said 'I know that he's (Dodi's) going to give me a ring, but that's going to go firmly on a finger on my right hand'."
Ms Monckton added that there was no way the princess could have been pregnant when she died because she had had her period 10 days before, on a yachting holiday they were on together in the Greek islands.
'Marriage problems''Marriage problems'
He agreed with Ian Burnett QC, counsel for the inquest, that Prince Philip lets press comment "roll off his back". Brig Hunt-Davis said Prince Philip had released a statement to deny press reports about the contents of the letters which was, to his knowledge, the first and last time the duke had done such a thing.
He agreed with Mr Burnett that Prince Philip lets press comment "roll off his back".
"That's absolutely right, yes, but he took exceptionally a different view in this case," he said."That's absolutely right, yes, but he took exceptionally a different view in this case," he said.
He added: "There is not a single derogatory term in the correspondence.He added: "There is not a single derogatory term in the correspondence.
"The general feeling throughout was of a father-in-law doing his very best to help his daughter-in-law resolve the problems that she and the Prince of Wales were having with their marriage.""The general feeling throughout was of a father-in-law doing his very best to help his daughter-in-law resolve the problems that she and the Prince of Wales were having with their marriage."
Earlier, the inquest heard that the detective leading the British investigation into the death of Diana asked French police if they had found anything suspicious.Earlier, the inquest heard that the detective leading the British investigation into the death of Diana asked French police if they had found anything suspicious.
Police liaison officer Nick Gargan, based at the British Embassy in Paris, said he did not remember it being a specific point that Det Supt Jeffrey Rees would bring up without fail, but it was a question that he would ask periodically.Police liaison officer Nick Gargan, based at the British Embassy in Paris, said he did not remember it being a specific point that Det Supt Jeffrey Rees would bring up without fail, but it was a question that he would ask periodically.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.