Public inquiry into death of Diana ruled out despite calls

THERE will be no public inquiry into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s official spokesman insisted yesterday.

Harrods tycoon Mohamed al Fayed said a letter from Diana predicting her death proved there should be an official probe into the Paris car crash that killed her and his son Dodi.

The dramatic letter was revealed by Diana’s former butler and “rock” Paul Burrell.

In it the princess accused an unnamed person of plotting her death in a car crash.The revelation sparked fresh calls from Mr al Fayed for a full public inquiry.

But Mr Blair’s official spokesman said there was no need.

“As everybody knows, there has been an exhaustive investigation by the French authorities into the circumstances surrounding Diana’s death,” the spokesman said.

“There would be nothing to be gained from repeating that here. But clearly there will be a routine coroner’s inquest in Britain once the French legal processes are completed.”

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh wrote to Diana, telling her that he and the Queen “disapproved” of Charles’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, it was reported yesterday.

Philip allegedly told the princess: “I cannot imagine anyone in their right mind leaving you for Camilla.”

The duke made the remarks in a letter sent to Diana in the summer of 1992, according to a book Mr Burrell, which is being publicised in the Daily Mirror.

In the letter, the Duke is reported to have told the princess: “We do not approve of either of you having lovers. Charles was silly to risk everything with Camilla for a man in his position. We never dreamed he might feel like leaving you for her.

“Such a prospect never even entered our heads.”

The newspaper said Mr Burrell’s book, A Royal Duty, also contained details of other correspondence in which Philip allegedly tried to blame Diana for Charles’s relationship with Camilla.

He asked her if she could “honestly look into her heart” and say the affair was nothing to do with her behaviour towards him, the report said.

In one letter, Philip allegedly told Diana that being married to Charles “involved much more than simply being a hero with the British people“.

He was also reported to have told her that jealousy was the “cancer” within her marriage and said her “irrational” post-natal behaviour following the birth of Prince William had not helped her relationship with Charles.