The Mysterious Disappearance of Princess Diana’s Files
In 2007, French authorities shocked the world when they claimed that the entire dossier related to Princess Diana’s death had mysteriously “disappeared” just weeks before the $17 million British inquest into the tragic incident opened. The investigation ultimately concluded that Princess Diana and her rumored lover Dodi Al Fayed had been unlawfully killed due to grossly negligent driving by paparazzi and chauffeur Henri Paul, who also perished in the crash. The only survivor, bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, suffered catastrophic injuries.
The French file, compiled by a team of 30 police officers, contained thousands of pages of evidence, over 200 witness statements, toxicology reports for Henri Paul, previously unseen crash scene photographs, and interviews from one of the largest legal investigations in modern French history. However, lawyer Jean-Louis Pelletier, who represented one of the paparazzi involved, was shocked when he was told that the dossier had vanished when he sought access to it in 2007.
According to Pelletier, “When I went into the court to ask to see the files, I was told they weren’t there. I know files go missing from time to time, but bearing in mind the size and importance of this particular one, it is extraordinary.” While partial photocopies were provided to Lord Stevens, who led the British investigation into Diana’s death, the original documents – the only version admissible in any future court proceedings – have remained sealed.
Adding to the mystery, in 2006, French authorities also revealed that photographs showing Diana and Dodi at the crash scene had also disappeared. A British lawyer commented, “It is scarcely believable that such crucial evidence could be lost just weeks before the inquest.”
The disappearance of the crucial files has fueled conspiracy theories and speculation surrounding Princess Diana’s tragic death. The truth behind the missing dossier remains a mystery, leaving many unanswered questions about what really happened on that fateful night in Paris.
