August 31 - Diana:Last Days of A Princess

This is a film where a scene happens today – August 31. I hope you enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

DIANA:THE LAST DAYS OF A PRINCESS

Diana and Dodi leave the Hotel Ritz in Paris in a car driven by Henri Paul and chased by paparazzi early in the morning of August 31, 1997 [00:01 to 3:17]. We then flash back three months to when Diana, the divorced Princess of Wales meets wealthy Mohamed Al-Fayed, who invites her to spend some time on his yacht in the Mediterranean. Diana goes with William and Harry and meets Dodi Al-Fayed, who has been ordered on board by his father, Mohamed even though it means abandoning his girlfriend, Kelly. Diana travels with Dodi to Paris as their relationship deepens and becomes more intimate. They return to the yacht and their relationship becomes public. Problems arise as the Fayeds will not listen to their own security people. The couple suddenly return to Paris and Diana stays at the Ritz. They later leave for Dodi’s apartment. That evening they go to eat at the Ritz. Dodi gets upset with the paparazzi following them everywhere and hatches a plan, against the advice of his security people to avoid them. They will send a decoy car from the front of the hotel while Henri Paul drives him and Diana away in a car from the rear door. Paul has been drinking as he had no idea he might be driving. Early on August 31, 1997 they leave the Ritz, followed by the paparazzi and crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, killing Dodi and Diana. 

An interesting account of Diana’s death. This story if true in my mind accounts for her death without the need to invoke a high level conspiracy theory. She died because Dodi refused to listen to the security experts he had hired.

Hardman, Robert. Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and her Court. New York; Pegasus Books, 2012. This book at page 100 and the film at 11:17 give Diana’s death date

       

Producer – Rebecca Hedderly

Director -  Richard Dale

Screenplay – Jenny Lecoat

Runtime –  2 hours

Released – July 30, 2007

Starring –

Genevieve O'Reilly as Diana, Princess of Wales

Patrick Baladi as Dodi Al-Fayed

Carlo Ferrante as Henri Paul

Shaun Dooley as Trevor Rees-Jones

Nadim Sawalha as Mohamed Al-Fayed