Inquests into Diana and Dodi open

The inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her lover Dodi Fayed were finally opening today.

More than six years after the couple were killed in a car crash in the Pont d’Alma underpass in Paris, the first official public hearings in Britain into the incident were getting under way.

The long-awaited openings were taking place at separate venues before being adjourned.

It is hoped the inquests could eventually shed light on the flurry of conspiracy theories surrounding the events of August 31, 1997.

Speculation that the couple were murdered by MI6 has circulated for years, with Dodi’s father, Mohamed al Fayed, insisting they were assassinated by the British secret service.

The Harrods owner was due to attend both of today’s hearings with his legal team in tow, including barrister Michael Mansfield QC.

Other conspiracy rumours centre on claims the Princess was pregnant when she died, with a senior French police source recently speaking out in support of the theory.

Diana, 36, and 42-year-old Ehmad Fayed, nicknamed Dodi, were killed along with chauffeur Henri Paul when their Mercedes crashed in a tunnel on August 31, 1997.

They were being pursued by photographers as they took the short trip from the Ritz Hotel to Mr Fayed’s Paris apartment.

A two-year French investigation led by Judge Herve Stephan blamed Paul for losing control of the car while high on drink and drugs and driving too fast.

Trevor Rees Jones, the princess’s personal bodyguard, was the only survivor and can recall little of the crash.

Diana’s inquest was opening at 10.30am in the Fleming Room of the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in Westminster, London, amid intense press interest.

Journalists from Japanese TV channels and broadcasters from Germany and the US are among those expected to descend on the vast makeshift court for the statement by the royal family’s coroner, Michael Burgess.

The opening of Dodi’s inquest will take place at 3pm in Wray Park, Reigate, Surrey, where he lived and is buried.

Mr Burgess, who presides over both hearings in his roles as Coroner of the Queen’s Household and for the county of Surrey, will not call witnesses today.

He has indicated he will speak on the purpose of the inquests, how they may be expected to be conducted and the nature and scope of evidence he expects to receive.

Mr Burgess has yet to examine the 6,000 page report produced by the French probe.

The inquests’ lengthy delays follow the French investigation and a spate of courtroom battles launched by Mr al Fayed.

The Egyptian-born millionaire attempted and failed to overturn Judge Stephan’s ruling that manslaughter charges against paparazzi photographers and a press motorcyclist following the car should be dismissed.

His campaign at the Court of Session in Edinburgh for a public inquiry into the deaths is still being considered.

In July 2000, he also lost a High Court case in which he called for Diana and Dodi’s inquests to be held together.

The Princess’s brother, Earl Spencer, is not expected to attend the hearing today nor will any member of the royal family.

Clarence House said it did not anticipate that representatives of the royal household would be present to monitor the proceedings.

However, a spokeswoman said: “The Prince of Wales and both Princes William and Harry are very pleased that the inquest is finally under way.”

Coroners aim to confirm the identity of the deceased and the details of how, when and where they were killed.

At Diana’s inquest, with the Princess having resided at Kensington Palace, as the Coroner of the Queen’s household Mr Burgess has the right to call a jury made up of members of the royal household.

According to British Law, inquests must be held into deaths abroad if they are deemed not to have occurred due to natural causes.