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'No suggestion' of Diana murder 'No suggestion' of Diana murder
(19 minutes later)
French police investigating the car crash which killed Princess Diana never suggested it was anything other than a tragic accident, her inquest has heard.French police investigating the car crash which killed Princess Diana never suggested it was anything other than a tragic accident, her inquest has heard.
Retired Scotland Yard Detective Chief Superintendent Jeff Rees acted as the main liaison with officers in Paris.Retired Scotland Yard Detective Chief Superintendent Jeff Rees acted as the main liaison with officers in Paris.
He said he repeatedly asked them about the possibility of foul play, but "the answer was always an unequivocal 'No'." He said he repeatedly asked them about the possibility of foul play, but "the answer was always an unequivocal 'No'".
Earlier, a friend of Diana's said she had insisted she needed marriage to Dodi Al Fayed "like a rash on my face".Earlier, a friend of Diana's said she had insisted she needed marriage to Dodi Al Fayed "like a rash on my face".
Lady Annabel Goldsmith, 73, said Diana was having a "wonderful" time with Mr Al Fayed and felt "she had never been so spoiled", but an engagement was not planned.Lady Annabel Goldsmith, 73, said Diana was having a "wonderful" time with Mr Al Fayed and felt "she had never been so spoiled", but an engagement was not planned.
Diana and Mr Al Fayed were killed along with their driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in 1997.Diana and Mr Al Fayed were killed along with their driver Henri Paul in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
'Buried before sunset''Buried before sunset'
Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed believes his son and Diana were murdered by the security services because she was pregnant.Mr Al Fayed's father Mohamed believes his son and Diana were murdered by the security services because she was pregnant.
But Mr Rees told the High Court that neither Mr Al Fayed nor his security chief said or implied to him that the deaths had been caused deliberately.But Mr Rees told the High Court that neither Mr Al Fayed nor his security chief said or implied to him that the deaths had been caused deliberately.
I said to her laughably, 'You are not going to do anything silly are you?' Lady Annabel GoldsmithI said to her laughably, 'You are not going to do anything silly are you?' Lady Annabel Goldsmith
Mr Rees was in charge of organising activities at Fulham mortuary where the couple's bodies were taken after being returned to the UK.Mr Rees was in charge of organising activities at Fulham mortuary where the couple's bodies were taken after being returned to the UK.
"I expressed my condolences to Mr Al Fayed and he implored me to do whatever I could to speed up the process at the mortuary, because it was important for religious reasons that the body was buried before sunset that day," he said."I expressed my condolences to Mr Al Fayed and he implored me to do whatever I could to speed up the process at the mortuary, because it was important for religious reasons that the body was buried before sunset that day," he said.
Mr Rees denied he was recruited as liaison by then Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner David Veness to help cover up any possibility that the crash might have been suspicious.Mr Rees denied he was recruited as liaison by then Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner David Veness to help cover up any possibility that the crash might have been suspicious.
He said he had maintained an "open mind" about what he called an "unprecedented situation".He said he had maintained an "open mind" about what he called an "unprecedented situation".
And he said no-one at Scotland Yard had ever suggested to him that the deaths might be suspiciousAnd he said no-one at Scotland Yard had ever suggested to him that the deaths might be suspicious
Diana expressionDiana expression
Earlier on Monday, Lady Annabel told the inquest Diana had rubbished rumours of marriage to Mr Al Fayed shortly before her death.Earlier on Monday, Lady Annabel told the inquest Diana had rubbished rumours of marriage to Mr Al Fayed shortly before her death.
She said: "It had been splashed all over the papers. I said to her laughably, 'You are not going to do anything silly are you?'She said: "It had been splashed all over the papers. I said to her laughably, 'You are not going to do anything silly are you?'
Former Det Ch Supt Jeff Rees liaised with French policeFormer Det Ch Supt Jeff Rees liaised with French police
"I meant, 'You are not going to do anything silly like rushing off and eloping or getting married,' and she said, 'I would need marriage like a rash on my face.'"I meant, 'You are not going to do anything silly like rushing off and eloping or getting married,' and she said, 'I would need marriage like a rash on my face.'
"It was a very Diana expression.""It was a very Diana expression."
When asked about the comment, Lady Annabel said: "She might have been having a wonderful time with him, I'm sure, but I thought her remark that she needed marriage like a rash meant that she was not serious about it."When asked about the comment, Lady Annabel said: "She might have been having a wonderful time with him, I'm sure, but I thought her remark that she needed marriage like a rash meant that she was not serious about it."
She said she was sure Mr Al Fayed was "a very nice fellow", but was concerned about how fast their relationship was moving.She said she was sure Mr Al Fayed was "a very nice fellow", but was concerned about how fast their relationship was moving.
"I put it to her because I thought, 'Gosh, I'm reading all these lurid details about her and she is very impulsive,' and I didn't think she had known him long enough, but it was a jokey remark meaning, 'Are you serious or are you not?"'"I put it to her because I thought, 'Gosh, I'm reading all these lurid details about her and she is very impulsive,' and I didn't think she had known him long enough, but it was a jokey remark meaning, 'Are you serious or are you not?"'
"I think I was just trying to find out what was on her mind and she answered in that one short sentence."I think I was just trying to find out what was on her mind and she answered in that one short sentence.
"End of conversation. Last conversation ever," Lady Annabel said."End of conversation. Last conversation ever," Lady Annabel said.
Phone numberPhone number
I'm confident, on the face of it, that she would not have been [pregnant] Lady Annabel GoldsmithI'm confident, on the face of it, that she would not have been [pregnant] Lady Annabel Goldsmith
Lady Annabel also said it was "impossible" that Diana could have been pregnant when she died.Lady Annabel also said it was "impossible" that Diana could have been pregnant when she died.
"There was a reason for that [belief]," she said, without elaborating."There was a reason for that [belief]," she said, without elaborating.
"I'm confident, on the face of it, that she would not have been [pregnant].""I'm confident, on the face of it, that she would not have been [pregnant]."
She also said the princess had been "in love" with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and was "sad" about their break-up which had been some time before February 1996.She also said the princess had been "in love" with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan and was "sad" about their break-up which had been some time before February 1996.
Lady Annabel said Diana kept changing her mobile phone number, probably because she wanted to avoid speaking to certain people.Lady Annabel said Diana kept changing her mobile phone number, probably because she wanted to avoid speaking to certain people.
But she said the princess had never mentioned anything about believing her conversations were being bugged.But she said the princess had never mentioned anything about believing her conversations were being bugged.
The inquest continues.The inquest continues.