Hotel scene of Diana's last moments captured by tourist

An Australian tourist’s home video showing the scene outside the Ritz on the night Diana, Princess of Wales died was viewed by the jury at the inquest into her death today.

It depicts the hordes of paparazzi congregated in the Place Vendome, outside the front entrance of the hotel, shortly before midnight on August 30 1997.

In the seven-minute film, taken by Chloe Papazahariakis, the jury could see close-up shots of the jostling photographers, with cameras poised, ready to snatch an image of the Princess and Dodi Fayed.

But there is a jovial atmosphere, as tourists mingle in the crowd, chatting and laughing, and on several occasions Ms Papazahariakis’s friends are seen talking directly to the camera.

One female tourist can be heard shouting “Princess Diana!”.

Driver Henri Paul is seen on the film walking out of the hotel and crossing over to the waiting paparazzi, just before a “dummy run” is carried out by Diana and Dodi’s security guards.

A black Mercedes, used by the couple earlier that evening, is parked outside the hotel, along with a Range Rover.

When the vehicles move off, there are scenes of chaos as photographers run for their cars and scooters, eager to keep up with what they believe is the Mercedes carrying Diana and Dodi.

There is a loud screeching noise as a 4x4 makes an abrupt U-turn in the middle of the Place Vendome, prompting gasps from the crowd.

Minutes later, Ms Papazahariakis’s film shows the Mercedes and Range Rover pulling up outside the hotel again.

The driver of the Mercedes used on the “dummy run”, identified as Philippe Dourneau, gets of the driver’s side and is seen chatting briefly with a paparazzo.

A woman dressed in red is filmed as she walks away from the hotel to cheers from the crowd.

Inspector Paul Carpenter, who narrated the film for the jury, commented: “She has no idea what’s going on.”

A short time later, the Mercedes and Range Rover leave the Ritz again, after Diana and Dodi have left through the rear exit using a different Mercedes, although this is not caught on the camera.

A male tourist is heard to say: “We missed out, she’s gone out the back door.”

The film finishes with Ms Papazahariakis in a car driving away from the Ritz.