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The conspiracy theories: How speculation of pregnancy and royal murder plots failed to hold up against critical scrutiny
The Duke of Edinburgh Mr al Fayed believes the Duke is the true power in Britain. He claims missing letters between the Duke and his daughter-in-law around the time of her divorce would provide evidence of hostility. But copies of correspondence kept by the Duke point to a more affectionate relationship, with Diana addressing him as "Dearest Pa".
Pregnancy
Mr al Fayed claims Diana told him by telephone that she was pregnant with Dodi's child.
Pathologist Dr Robert Chapman said he specifically examined Diana's womb and ovaries for signs of pregnancy during her post mortem and found none.
Friends also said Diana was on the Pill.
Riddle of the ring
Mr al Fayed believes Diana and Dodi were poised to announce their engagement when they died.
A receipt from Repossi jeweller's shows that Dodi picked out a F115,000 (11,500) ring from the firm's Dis-moi Oui (Tell me Yes) range hours before the crash.
Claude Roulet, the Ritz Hotel's assistant president – who oversaw the purchase – said he never heard him speak of engagement.
He said Dodi picked out the ring because it was the cheapest item in a selection of jewellery he brought to his room.
Lady Annabel Goldsmith said Diana had told her: "I need marriage like a rash on my face."
The driver
Alcohol concentrations of around 1.73 grammes per litre - three times the French drink-drive limit – were found in blood and vitreous humour samples attributed to Henri Paul.
Mr al Fayed claims the samples were switched. He points to unexplained carbon monoxide levels and poor labelling.
Instead he insists Henri Paul was in the pay of the security services.
A receipt shows Mr Paul ordering two double shots of Ricard spirit from the Ritz bar before the crash. He was also spotted at another bar earlier.
Former night manager Thierry Rocher said Mr Paul was allowed to drink on duty unchallenged because of his "specific status" within the Fayed organisation.
Experts were divided on the samples. Clinical pharmacologist Prof Atholl Johnston suggested the results had been "cooked" but forensic medical sciences expert Professor Peter Vanezis accepted there were "consistencies" between samples.
The white car
It is accepted that the Mercedes collided fleetingly with a white Fiat Uno moments before striking a pillar in the Alma Tunnel. Evidence includes shattered light fragments shown to the jury and paint scratches visible in photographs.
Witnesses reported seeing a white car in the area, possibly with a large dog in the back, but it has never been traced.
Mr al Fayed believes the car belonged to photographer James Andanson, who owned a white Fiat at the time but sold it. He was found dead in contentious circumstances three years later.
Mr Andanson spoke of being in the tunnel but police believe he was almost 200 miles away.
Witnesses Georges and Sabine Dauzonne picked out former security guard Le Van Thanh as the possible driver. He also owned a Fiat and rottweilers. The car was resprayed around the time of the crash but could not be conclusively linked.
MI6
Claims of MI6 involvement were fuelled by the evidence of renegade spy Richard Tomlinson. He cited an early 1990s memo about a plan to kill a Balkan leader as evidence that MI6 did carry out assassinations.
Mr Tomlinson also told police he recalled references to there being a French MI6 contact within the Ritz who, like Mr Paul, had an interest in flying.
MI6 files showed no references to Mr Paul and no record of any meetings taking place at the Ritz as Mr Tomlinson recalled.
Treatment
Michael Mansfield QC cross-examined a series of French doctors and ambulance staff about the time taken to get Diana to hospital. The jury heard France favours stabilising victims at the scene of accidents rather than a so-called "scoop and run" approach used in other countries. Prof Alain Pavie, who operated on Diana, stated bluntly: "If she had arrived there earlier, she would have arrived there dead."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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