31 August 1997

Sunday

1997-08-31

Events

 * The world awakens to the news that Diana Princess of Wales has been killed in a car crash together with her lover Dodi Fayed. Driver Henri Paul was also killed, although a third passenger Trevor Rees-Jones, Dodi's bodyguard, survived. The accident happened after the couple had left the Ritz Hotel in Paris shortly after midnight while speeding through the Alma road tunnel. The car allegedly clipped another oncoming vehicle before crashing into the thirteenth pillar in the tunnel. The car was travelling at speed while being chased by paparazzi photographers, eager, as ever, for pictures of Diana with Dodi.
 * At 4.41am, the Press Association issues a news flash: “Diana, Princess of Wales, has died, according to British sources.” Confirmation from Buckingham Palace swiftly follows.
 * BBC newscaster Martyn Lewis announces it to viewers shortly after 5am (inital reports that Diana had been merely "injured").
 * During the morning, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, addresses the nation, famously referring to Diana as “the People’s Princess”.