The Tragic Death of Princess Diana

Summary

This week's 'BuzzFeed Unsolved' delves into the tragic death of Princess Diana, exploring both the confirmed facts and the conspiracy theories that persist. Born into British aristocracy, Diana's life transformed upon marrying Prince Charles, facing immense public scrutiny and private turmoil. Despite her 'People's Princess' image, she struggled with bulimia and an unhappy marriage. The show scrutinizes the car crash in Paris that took her life, addressing theories of a planned assassination, medical sabotage, and even Diana's own premonitions of danger. Ultimately, the episode respects her legacy as a philanthropist and advocate for the less fortunate.

Takeaways

• 👸 Princess Diana was born into British nobility and became a global icon after marrying Prince Charles.
• 💍 Despite the public fairytale image, Diana's marriage was fraught with difficulties, including her husband's affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
• 🏥 Diana suffered from bulimia and depression, partly due to the pressures of royal life and her husband's infidelity.
• 🚗 The conspiracy theories around Diana's death involve claims of a planned accident, a pregnancy, and sabotaged medical care.
• 🔍 Operation Paget, a police investigation, examined numerous conspiracy theories and concluded that Diana's death was a tragic accident.
• 🍷 The driver of Diana's car, Henri Paul, had a high blood-alcohol level, suggesting drunk driving as the cause of the crash.
• 🚑 French emergency protocol, which involves treating on-site before transport, has been cited as a factor in Diana's death, but is not substantiated.
• 🤰 The theory that Diana was killed because of a supposed pregnancy with Dodi Al-Fayed's child was debunked by medical evidence.
• ✉️ Diana had predicted her own death in a letter, mentioning a planned 'accident', which adds to the intrigue but was not proven.
• 👩‍⚕️ A leading forensic pathologist confirmed that Diana's death was due to a rare injury, not easily survivable regardless of the medical response.

Q & A

Who was Diana, Princess of Wales?

Diana, Princess of Wales, was born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1st, 1961, in Norfolk, England. She was a member of the British aristocracy and became Lady Diana when her father inherited the earldom in 1975. She was known for her philanthropic work and was adored by the public, earning the nickname 'The People's Princess.'

How did Diana meet Prince Charles?

Diana and Prince Charles were introduced in November 1977 when she was 16 and he was 29. They were neighbors in Norfolk, and Charles had previously dated her sister, Lady Sarah. Their relationship grew after being invited to social events together.

When and where did Diana and Prince Charles get married?

Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married on July 29th, 1981, the same month Diana turned 20. The wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

What was Diana's role before her marriage to Prince Charles?

Before her marriage to Prince Charles, Diana worked as a kindergarten teacher at the Young England School in London.

How did Princess Diana use her popularity?

Princess Diana used her popularity to advocate for various causes, including leprosy, domestic violence, mental health, and the AIDS crisis. She was known for her compassion and her ability to connect with people in need.

What challenges did Diana face within the royal family?

Diana faced significant challenges within the royal family, including isolation, lack of support, and an unhappy marriage. She also struggled with bulimia and depression, which were exacerbated by the pressures of royal life and the media scrutiny.

What are some conspiracy theories surrounding Diana's death?

Conspiracy theories around Diana's death include suspicions of an intentional car crash orchestrated by security forces, her alleged pregnancy with Dodi Al-Fayed's child leading to her assassination by the British state, and sabotage of her medical care. These theories have been largely debunked by investigations.

What was the official conclusion of the investigation into Diana's death?

Operation Paget, conducted by the Metropolitan Police, examined 175 different theories and concluded that Diana's death was a tragic accident. The investigation found no basis for the conspiracy theories suggesting her death was intentional.

How did Princess Diana's death impact the world?

Diana's death had a profound impact worldwide. An estimated two-and-a-half billion people tuned in to watch her funeral procession, making it one of the largest non-sporting television audiences ever. Her death led to an outpouring of grief and numerous conspiracy theories.

What was Diana's legacy as a member of the royal family?

Diana's legacy includes her humanitarian work, her advocacy for various causes, and her role as a role model for women. Despite the challenges she faced within the royal family, she used her platform to help others and to inspire people around the world.

Outlines

00:00

👸 Introduction to Princess Diana's Story

The script opens with a dramatic setup, hinting at the tragic story of Princess Diana. The hosts of 'BuzzFeed Unsolved' express their respect for the much-loved figure while acknowledging the public's ongoing interest in the circumstances of her death. Despite the case being considered closed, they delve into the details to explore any lingering suspicions. The hosts also humorously interact, showing a mix of reverence and light-hearted banter, setting the tone for the episode.

05:01

🎓 Early Life and Marriage to Prince Charles

This segment provides a biographical sketch of Diana, from her aristocratic upbringing to her engagement and marriage with Prince Charles. It covers her education, early career as a kindergarten teacher, and her rapid transition into royal life. The hosts discuss the Spencer family's connection with the royals and the unusual dynamics of Diana and Charles's courtship, including the brief period of their acquaintance before marriage and the public's adoration of Diana, who was nicknamed 'The People's Princess.'

10:03

🏰 Challenges and Struggles within the Royal Family

The paragraph delves into the difficulties Diana faced post-marriage, including her isolation, the stark contrast between her public image and private struggles, and her eventual mental health decline. It discusses her move into Buckingham Palace, the pressures of royal life, and her development of bulimia, which she later spoke about publicly. The hosts also touch upon the lack of support from her husband, Prince Charles, and the broader royal family, highlighting the desperation and loneliness Diana experienced.

15:04

💔 Extramarital Affairs and Public Separation

This section discusses the deterioration of Diana and Charles's marriage, including Charles's relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles and Diana's affair with James Hewitt. It details the public's reaction to their marital issues and the official announcement of their separation. The hosts reflect on Diana's courage to seek happiness outside her unhappy marriage, leading to her divorce and the pursuit of a relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed.

20:05

🚔 The Tragic Car Accident and Conspiracy Theories

The hosts recount the tragic car accident in Paris that resulted in Diana's death, focusing on the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the involvement of paparazzi and the driver's high blood-alcohol level. They explore conspiracy theories suggesting that the driver was bribed to cause the accident or that Diana was targeted by security forces. The paragraph also addresses the public's grief and the global attention her funeral received, reflecting on the enduring mystery and public fascination with her death.

25:06

🔍 Debunking Conspiracy Theories and Reflecting on Diana's Legacy

The final paragraph addresses various conspiracy theories regarding Diana's death, including suspicions of a planned assassination due to her supposed pregnancy or as a plot to prevent her from marrying Dodi Al-Fayed. The hosts critically examine these theories, often finding them lacking in evidence. They also discuss Diana's letter predicting her own death and her concerns about her safety. The segment concludes with a reflection on Diana's life, her impact as a role model and philanthropist, and the hosts' call to focus on her positive legacy rather than the conspiracy theories surrounding her death.

Keywords

💡Princess Diana

Princess Diana, born Diana Frances Spencer, was a member of the British royal family. She is a central figure in the video as it explores her life, her marriage to Prince Charles, and the conspiracy theories surrounding her untimely death. Her influence as a philanthropist and 'The People's Princess' is highlighted, showing her impact beyond her royal status.

💡Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories refer to the various speculative and often sensational explanations for events that often contradict the official narrative. In the context of the video, these theories attempt to explain the circumstances of Princess Diana's death, suggesting foul play by various entities, which the video scrutinizes and debunks.

💡Royal Family

The royal family is discussed in the video as the institution to which Princess Diana was married and with which she had a complex relationship. The video touches on the pressures and expectations placed on Diana as a member of the royal family and how these may have contributed to her struggles.

💡BBC Interview

The BBC interview is mentioned as a significant event where Princess Diana openly discussed her struggles within the royal family and her personal life. This interview is a key reference point in the video, illustrating Diana's candidness and the public's insight into her life behind the royal facade.

💡Bulimia

Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by purging. In the video, it's discussed as a health issue that Princess Diana suffered from, highlighting the personal challenges she faced and the impact of her royal life on her mental health.

💡Paparazzi

Paparazzi are photographers who pursue celebrities to capture candid photos. The video discusses the role of paparazzi in the car crash that led to Princess Diana's death, suggesting their aggressive pursuit may have contributed to the tragic event.

💡Operation Paget

Operation Paget was an investigation by the Metropolitan Police to examine conspiracy theories surrounding Princess Diana's death. The video references this operation to emphasize the official conclusion that her death was a tragic accident, not an assassination.

💡Philanthropist

A philanthropist is a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, often by donating money to good causes. The video portrays Princess Diana as a philanthropist, emphasizing her advocacy for various causes and her efforts to help the less fortunate.

💡The People's Princess

The title 'The People's Princess' was given to Diana by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and is mentioned in the video to illustrate her popularity and the affection the public had for her. It contrasts her public image as a caring figure with the challenges she faced within the royal family.

💡Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is the act of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, which is illegal and dangerous. The video discusses the driver Henri Paul's blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash, suggesting that his intoxication, rather than a conspiracy, caused the accident.

💡Seatbelt

A seatbelt is a safety device designed to secure a vehicle's occupant against harmful movements that could occur during a collision. The video points out that Princess Diana was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, which may have contributed to the severity of her injuries.

Highlights

Introduction of the investigation into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, acknowledging her status as a beloved figure and the public's ongoing interest in the circumstances of her death.

Diana's aristocratic background and her life before joining the royal family, including her work as a kindergarten teacher.

The unusual age difference and circumstances of Diana's introduction to Prince Charles through her sister, Lady Sarah.

Diana's rapid transition from commoner to princess and the public's adoration, earning her the nickname 'The People's Princess'.

Diana's advocacy work, raising awareness for various causes such as leprosy, domestic violence, mental health, and the AIDS crisis.

The isolation and mental health struggles Diana faced within the royal family, leading to her bulimia.

Details of Prince Charles's relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles and its impact on Diana's mental state.

The public's idealized view of Diana's marriage, contrasting with the private struggles and her eventual extramarital relationship.

The announcement of Diana and Charles's separation and their official divorce, marking a significant change in Diana's life.

Diana's fatal car crash in Paris, including the involvement of her partner Dodi Al-Fayed and the subsequent conspiracy theories.

The widespread public mourning and the massive viewership of Diana's funeral, reflecting her global impact.

Conspiracy theory suggesting driver Henri Paul was bribed to crash the car, and the investigation into his financial status.

Discussion of the theory that Diana was killed due to a supposed pregnancy with Al-Fayed's child, and the royal family's alleged reaction.

The theory of medical care sabotage and the differences in French and UK emergency protocols.

Diana's own prediction of her untimely death in a letter given to her former butler, and the subsequent marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles.

Final thoughts on Diana's legacy as a role model and philanthropist, and the conclusion of the investigation by Operation Paget that the crash was an accident.

Transcripts

(siren wailing)

(light bulb flickering)

(glass shattering)

- This week on "BuzzFeed Unsolved,"

we look into one of the most famous

and tragic losses of the 20th century,

the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Now, before we get into this case, I want to say

that while this is one of the most requested cases

on "Unsolved," it's still very much solved.

However, since Princess Diana was such a beloved figure

and continues to be today, some maintain suspicions

surrounding the circumstances of her death.

So, today we're going to look into

some of those circumstances

to see if any merit a closer look.

- You better tread lightly here, buddy,

otherwise they're not gonna let you back in

to that ol' foggy town they call London.

- Is that a threat?

- I think so.

I'm speaking on behalf of England here.

I think that's fair for me to do.

She had her own Beanie Baby, so watch your mouth.

- Hear me out here,

I'm speaking on behalf of Batman and Robin,

and I'm gonna tell you right now

that the boys don't respond well to threats.

- You're gonna beat me up because I told you

you shouldn't slander Diana, Princess of Wales?

- Yes. - Okay.

That's a choice.

- Let's get into this. - Okay.

- [Ryan] The Honorable Diana Frances Spencer

was born in Norfolk, England, on July 1st, 1961.

The youngest daughter of then-Viscount

and Viscountess Althorp,

and therefore a member of the British aristocracy,

the Honorable Diana became Lady Diana

when he father inherited the earldom in 1975.

Lady Diana attended boarding school in Kent,

then finishing school in Switzerland until 1978.

Afterward, Lady Diana moved into an apartment

in London with some friends,

going on to work as a kindergarten teacher

at the Young England School.

- [Shane] Must be fun to be a young sexy person in London.

- [Ryan] You're not referring to us in London, right?

- [Shane] (laughing) No.

There was nothing beautiful

about what happened to us in London.

- Also interesting that she was obviously an aristocrat.

She was wealthy, had a title,

and yet still living in an apartment with pals

and a kindergarten teacher.

- In one of the most expensive cities in the world.

- That is true. (Shane laughing)

That is true, but a kindergarten teacher nonetheless.

- True, yeah; noble.

- The Spencer family had known the royal family

for years, as they were neighbors in Norfolk.

However, Diana and her future husband, Prince Charles,

didn't get to know each other until November 1977.

Lady Diana's sister, Lady Sarah,

who had dated the prince on and off for a while,

invited Charles to a weekend with her family.

At the time, Lady Diana was 16 and Charles was 29.

Weirdness about the age difference aside,

obviously- - What's the age difference?

- 16 and 29.

Obviously, they have not maybe done something here.

It is a red flag if they have.

Either way, one of the things to talk about there is

do you think you could date somebody

and it doesn't work out

and then you just move on to the sister?

- No, I don't think so.

I don't think I could.

That's strange.

- But what if you were dating them and you're like,

"Man, this sister actually is the correct incarnation"?

- (laughing) I thought you were gonna say,

"Man, that sister's actually smoking hot."

- That too! (Shane laughing)

It's just a weird thing to do.

- Well, he's a royal.

He's like, "Eh, whatever, I'll do what I want."

- That's true.

- He doesn't think about people's feelings.

He's a royal! - That's fair, that's fair.

Charles invited the two Spencer sisters

to his 30th birthday in 1978

and the relationship between Lady Diana and the prince grew.

On February 24th, 1981,

it was announced the couple was engaged.

Five months later, on July 29th, 1981,

the same month Diana turned 20, they were wed.

Before their wedding, Diana could recall

only having met with her husband 13 times.

Less than a year later, Diana gave birth to Prince William,

with Prince Harry following

a little more than two years after that.

While suddenly being thrust into princessdom

is a lot to handle, especially for a 20-year-old

with no princess experience,

the royal family was reportedly relieved

to have some youth in the mix

to help revitalize their stodgy public image.

Princess Diana was adored by the public,

famously given the nickname "The People's Princess"

by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

She used her popularity to advocate and raise awareness

for causes ranging from leprosy to domestic violence,

from mental health to the AIDS crisis.

I'm really glad we're past that whole leprosy kinda thing.

- [Shane] Leprosy?

Not good. - That's a biblical thing.

- [Shane] Gotta put you on an island.

- [Ryan] (laughing) Yeah, could you imagine that?

That's- - I mean...

Doesn't sound half bad, honestly.

The part where your skin falls off, not good.

- [Ryan] Yeah, that sounds pretty bad.

It's like- - Sloughing?

Never fun. - No, not great.

- Living on an island with a bunch of your pals

who are also sick?

Pretty cool.

- You're just describing a Saturday night at your apartment.

(both laughing)

Her constant display of compassion

meant she was able to capture the adoration of the public,

in stark contrast to what was actually happening

behind closed doors within the royal family.

In a 1995 interview with the BBC,

Princess Diana explained that, "Anything good I ever did,

"nobody ever said a thing, never said 'well done'

"or 'was it okay?'

"But if I tripped up, which invariably I did

"because I was new at the game,

"a ton of bricks came down on me."

According to former royal correspondent

for "The Guardian," Stephen Bates,

"There was an air of desperation about the marriage.

"The fact they scarcely knew each other was a big problem

"because the royals were so desperate

"to seize this potential asset that they didn't question

"whether she was up to the immense pressure

"she was going to get."

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly thought

Diana would find adjusting to royal life relatively easy,

as she had grown up in privilege.

This, however, was not the case.

Diana had gone from living in an apartment with friends

to living in Buckingham Palace practically overnight,

and the change was drastic and isolating.

Between exercising and working on wedding plans,

Diana spent most of her post-engagement days sitting around,

bored and alone, the isolation contributing

to a decline in her mental health.

Soon after moving into Buckingham Palace,

Diana began to struggle with bulimia.

She publicly spoke about the eating disorder

in an interview with the BBC in 1995,

saying, "You inflict it upon yourself

"because your self-esteem is at a low ebb,

"and you don't think you're worthy or valuable."

- I mean, her whole situation was miserable.

She seemed isolated and alone, which is already an issue.

I think these royals sort of live in a fish tank anyway,

so as ghoulish as some of them seem, it's like,

well, you know, their entire environment is awful.

- When you're in the public eye

under intense scrutiny every second of the day

and you don't have anybody in your corner behind the scenes-

- Yeah, she doesn't even have any allies within the house.

- So, you're just isolated.

I could totally see how that would lead you

down a dark path.

It also shows that when it comes to things

like eating disorders, it could happen to anybody.

Doesn't matter how high or low you are

on the totem pole of life, I suppose.

- Yes. - It's sad to see.

To the public, Diana's struggles were largely invisible.

Everyone wanted to believe in a perfect royal love story,

so they did.

On Diana's wedding day,

hundreds of thousands of well-wishers

lined the route from Buckingham Palace to the cathedral,

hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

The Archbishop of Canterbury commented

that the wedding, "The stuff of which fairy tales are made."

Meanwhile, Diana was suffering in private.

- [Shane] That guy was really reaching

for a descriptor there.

Wow, he really dug deep for that one.

"Wow, a prince and a princess got married.

"It's the stuff of fairytales!"

Oh, is it?

- [Ryan] Went deep in his bag for that bad boy.

Making matters worse for the princess,

the one person she would have obviously looked to for help

inside the palace, Prince Charles,

was proving to be less-than-adequate company.

According to the princess,

her disordered eating began to develop

after Charles placed his hand on her waist

and remarked, "A bit chubby here, aren't we?"

Hoo-hoo-hoo.

- [Shane] Chuck?

Chuck sucks. - Do not do that, ever.

In a post-engagement interview,

Prince Charles explained that he "gradually"

realized he would ask Diana to be his wife.

And when asked if they were in love,

Charles replied, "Whatever in love means."

- Again, I get that he doesn't have

the greatest living situation.

I'm sure things were equally difficult for him.

Well, no, fuck him!

What am I talking about?!

He can go fuck himself! (Ryan laughing)

- [Ryan] Whatever Charles believed "love" to mean,

he was apparently experiencing it with another woman,

Camilla Parker Bowles.

According to Diana's taped interviews with Andrew Morton,

Camilla and Charles had dated in the early-'70s,

but the royal family discouraged the prince

from marrying her due to her less-than-sterling reputation,

lack of family title, and love of another man.

Nevertheless, their romantic relationship

continued behind closed doors.

When Charles and Diana were married,

the prince's relationship with Camilla was put on hold,

though Camilla's influence over Charles continued.

Shortly before her wedding,

Diana found a personalized bracelet

her fiance had purchased for Camilla.

Throughout her honeymoon, her new husband wore cuff links

given to him by his paramour.

Diana later reported that during this time,

her bulimia was horrible and she would make herself sick

just two minutes after eating anything.

By 1986, it's believed that Charles

had fully resumed his relationship with Camilla.

A taped phone call from 1989 was later leaked to the press

in which Charles told Camilla

he wished he "lived in her knickers."

Now...

Aside from the fact that obviously he's not a great guy

for cheating on his wife-

- Yeah, it's just gross.

Just gross.

- British pillow talk.

"Lived in her knickers."

- Vile.

- Could you imagine someone whispering that to you

and then you not crawling out of your skin?

- "I wished I lived in your knickers."

(Ryan laughing)

- And I'd be like...

- "Excuse me?"

Is he imagining a Stuart Little situation?

- I don't know, it seems like it would be

a hot place to live.

This is a true crime show.

We're on season eight.

That's the most disgusting,

off-putting thing I've ever heard.

- Call me sick and perverse,

but I would like to hear more British sayings

that they say to each other when it's like-

- Try 'em off in the comments. - Heat of the moment.

Disgust me.

- I mean, usually it's just like, "I'm well chaffed."

- "Do I make you randy? (Shane laughing)

"Do I?"

- "I wish I lived in your knickers, baby, yeah!"

- [Ryan] That same year, Diana confronted Camilla.

Camilla reportedly stood her ground,

telling Diana, "You've got everything you ever wanted.

"All the men in the world fall in love with you.

"And you've got two beautiful children.

"What more do you want?"

Reportedly, Diana famously responded, "I want my husband."

Years later, while speaking with the BBC,

an interviewer asked how she coped with everything.

Diana said she cried a lot and often,

using her bulimia as a way to relieve some of the pressure.

She also revealed she was so depressed

that she at one point tried to kill herself.

Stuck in a very public yet very unhappy marriage,

Princess Diana began a relationship

with Captain James Hewitt of the Queen's Household Cavalry.

By the late-'80s,

Diana and Charles's marital problems

became public knowledge.

And in December 1992, the prime minister

announced the couple's amicable separation

to the House of Commons.

Charles and Diana officially divorced in August 1996.

I'm happy for her.

I'm happy that she took a second shot at life

to actually find some happiness.

Maybe her son right now is taking a cue from her by leaving.

Good for her.

- [Shane] Yeah.

- That's it. - Yep.

(Ryan laughing)

- [Ryan] A year after the divorce,

Diana was on vacation in France

with her partner, Dodi Al-Fayed,

who, according to "The Independent," Diana had met in 1986

when he was playing in a polo match

against her then-husband, Prince Charles.

- [Shane] That's a good sick burn.

- [Ryan] Yeah, it is.

- [Shane] Nice way to rub that in.

- [Ryan] (laughing) "Shoulda been better at polo.

"What was I supposed to do, date a loser?"

- That's cool. (Ryan laughing)

I like that.

- Could you imagine if I was in a one-on-one situation

and Mari told me, "You're gonna play one-on-one

"with this guy and if you lose to him,

"I'm breaking up with you." - "You're outta the picture."

- "I'm breaking up with you and I'm gonna go with Chad.

- I don't think that's the arrangement that they had,

but (laughing) I would love it if that was the case, yeah.

- [Ryan] Shortly after midnight on Sunday, August 31st,

Al-Fayed and Diana, along with bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones,

left the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

Al-Fayed's father owned the hotel

and the head of security there, Henri Paul,

was driving the group in a Mercedes-Benz,

presumably to Al-Fayed's Paris estate.

While approaching the entrance to a bridge,

Paul lost control of the vehicle

while being chased by paparazzi,

reportedly driving 70 miles per hour

in a 30-mile-per-hour zone.

The Mercedes slammed into a pillar

in the center of the highway. (tires screeching)

Diana, Al-Fayed, and Paul were not wearing seatbelts.

Paul and Al-Fayed were pronounced dead at the scene,

while Diana and Rees-Jones were taken to the hospital.

Many paparazzi who had been chasing the car

chose to photograph the wreckage

instead of trying to help the victims.

Rees-Jones survived,

but Diana's injuries proved to be more severe.

The princess was suffering from a concussion,

a broken arm, a cut thigh, and massive chest injuries.

Doctors operated for two hours,

but could not get the princess's heart to beat properly.

Princess Diana passed away from internal bleeding

the morning of August 31st.

She was 36 years old and survived by her two sons,

Prince William, age 15, and Prince Harry, age 12.

On September 6th, 1997,

two-and-a-half-billion people, that's billion with a B,

tuned in to watch the funeral procession for Princess Diana,

one of the largest non-sporting television audiences ever.

In the wake of her death,

as can happen when the world struggles to come to terms

with an unspeakable tragedy,

conspiracy theories began to gain steam.

Largely thanks to their publication in the daily "Express,"

rumors suggesting someone

intentionally killed the princess swirled.

In response, the Metropolitan Police

launched Operation Paget

to determine if any might have truth to them.

Eventually, Operation Paget examined 175 theories.

While we can't look into all 175 theories,

it's time to check out some of the most prevalent theories

surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Our first theory is that the driver, Henri Paul,

was paid by security forces in either France or the UK

to intentionally crash the car.

This comes from reports that Paul

seemingly had much more money than his salary could explain.

Despite making only $35,000 a year,

Paul had nearly $250,000 in his bank account

and a significant amount of cash on him

at the time of his death.

The physical evidence, however,

points not to malice but recklessness.

The day after the crash,

French authorities announced Paul's blood-alcohol level

was three times the legal limit,

implying it was drunk driving,

not an intended assassination, that caused the crash.

Conspiracy theorists try to argue that Paul's body

was swapped out with a drunk person

to give the crash some cover.

Skeptics also point to reports

that no one saw Paul acting drunk,

despite the large amount of alcohol in his system.

- [Shane] Sounds like he was drunk.

- [Ryan] Sure sounds like he was drunk.

I gotta say, it seems like a very, (pausing)

an Olympic stretch, if you ask me to think,

"Yeah, let's intentionally crash this car

"while making myself drunk.

"I'll fly through the window, but I'm gonna survive."

- "I'll be fine." - "I'll be okay." (laughing)

- [Shane] "Hey, we'll pay you a lotta money to die."

"Sounds good.

"Heaven bucks?"

(Ryan laughing)

- [Ryan] "Can I redeem these in the afterlife?"

- People can be too drunk...

They say don't drive when you're buzzed,

when you're even buzzed.

The thought of getting behind a wheel

having had a drop of alcohol

has always terrified me. - That's true.

- So, for a person to be even buzzed

and getting behind the wheel, very bad, don't do that.

Don't do it.

But I'm saying that someone who doesn't appear

outwardly like, "Whoa, I'm blasted," they're still impaired

and they could still drive terribly.

- Do you know who's a poor judge

of whether or not someone's drunk?

People who are drunk at a party.

- Yeah, also true.

Oh, good point!

- Kinda like the Haley Joel Osment thing.

"The crazy thing about dead people

"is they don't know they're dead" kinda thing.

- Sure, sure.

- [Ryan] Our second conspiracy theory

is that Diana was killed by the British state

because she was supposedly pregnant with Al-Fayed's child.

This theory is spearheaded

by Al-Fayed's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed,

who in 2008 told the British Royal Courts of Justice

why he was convince of this narrative.

Mohamed argues that the royal family

would never accept the idea of Dodi, an Egyptian Muslim,

possibly being the stepfather

of the eventual king of England

and thus plotted to kill Diana

and therefore the alleged half-sibling to the princes

gestating inside her.

- [Shane] Now, for this to be true,

the royal family would have to be racist.

- [Ryan] Yes.

- [Shane] They would have to have blood on their hands.

- Yes. - Hmm, interesting.

I don't know.

Seems like a pretty tall order to believe that one.

(Ryan laughing) And this is-

Look, hey, America, are we without sin?

No. (laughing) - No.

- Anyone who's that high up in a national level,

well, you know, either directly or indirectly,

they're murderers.

- Okay, I don't know if you could say that,

but, yes, you're kinda- - Imperialism? (laughing)

They've got bones all over the globe.

- That is true, that is true.

That is true.

Do I think they put out a hit on her?

Seems like a, I don't think so.

- In the weeks before her death,

some newspapers actually began to speculate

that Diana was pregnant, especially after the princess

made comments about a "big surprise."

Casting doubt on this theory, however,

is the fact that Diana was not pregnant.

Her postmortem examination and further blood tests

all concluded Diana was not pregnant.

And people close to the princess

note that her menstrual cycle was normal at the time,

she was using contraception,

and she had never mentioned a pregnancy to anyone.

I will say that I have a lot of very close Egyptian friends,

and they have also said when they found out

that I was going to do this episode,

they said that the Egyptian community at large

does very much believe that the royal family

did not like Diana dating an Egyptian man,

which is not hard to believe. - Not hard to believe at all.

Fully justifiable opinion-

- I agree with that. - Based on facts.

Not saying, "Hey, they for sure killed her,"

but the motivations are certainly there.

- Yeah, because if she marries him,

now they have to bring him into, I guess, the house,

the big house, and that's, I guess, a no go.

- Well, someone from the royal family

recently married a person of color.

How did that go?

- We could look into that. - Okay.

- I could have my team look into that.

- I'd love the details on that.

- Another theory surrounding the princess's death

is that her medical care was intentionally sabotaged.

This theory took root after reports emerged

that Diana was treated at the scene by emergency crews

before being transported to a hospital.

Had she been taken to a hospital before treatment began,

skeptics argue, perhaps she could have been saved.

This theory appears rooted

in differences between UK and French emergency protocols.

While the UK prioritizes getting injured victims

to a hospital as quickly as possible,

French emergency crews are trained

to give treatment on the scene

before transporting a person to the hospital.

This theory would also require

a large amount of expert doctors and caregivers

to break their ethical vows, as well as lie about doing so.

Most doctors also agree that no matter the treatment,

it would have been practically impossible

for Diana to survive her injuries.

In 2019, Britain's top forensic pathologist,

Dr. Richard Shepherd,

revealed that the final cause of Diana's death

was a badly-placed tear in a vein in her lung.

According to Dr. Shepherd,

"Her specific injury is so rare that in my entire career,

"I don't believe I've seen another."

I guess conspiracy theorists are pointing to the idea

that if she had been taken to the hospital,

she could've survived.

But they, I guess, intentionally treated her on the scene

to prevent that from happening, which is wild.

- It's worth taking the word of conspiracy theorists

over doctors, I think. - Yeah, especially when-

- Many people in America also believe that.

- (laughing) That is true!

Have you been on Twitter? - Jesus.

- Dr. Shepherd, by the way,

did say that it was incredibly rare and that also,

as unfortunate as it was, it could've been prevented

had she just been wearing a seatbelt though.

- I mean, a good takeaway.

- By the way, she wasn't wearing a seatbelt

because she was trying to duck the paparazzi at the time.

Our final conspiracy theory

is the only one that has a ring of truth to it,

that Diana predicted her own untimely death.

10 months before her death,

Diana gave a letter to a former butler for safekeeping.

In the letter, she wrote,

"This particular phase in my life is the most dangerous."

"Redacted is planning an accident in my car.

"Brake failure and serious head injury

"in order to make the path clear for Charles to marry."

On April 9th, 2005,

seven years after Diana's death,

Prince Charles married Parker Bowles,

who is now Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall.

That's weird.

I mean, there's no way around that one.

That one is weird.

I don't know what's going on there.

- It could very well be a coincidence.

I think it's very, you know, she's in a situation

where she is not on great terms with this family.

Probably a little paranoid about her own wellbeing.

I feel like it all, it stacks up.

And by that I mean, she clearly predicted that,

"Oh, it's not gonna go well for me,"

but I don't know that it was orchestrated.

- I'm just pointing out the obvious

and undeniable fact that it's weird

for someone to put in writing

the exact method of how they would die.

- Did her brakes go out?

- No, they didn't go brake failure.

You're right, that's true.

It wasn't a brake failure.

It was an accident, though, in a car.

- Debunked. (Ryan laughing)

- And we don't know who the redacted person is.

- I don't know.

She shouldn't have redacted it.

- I don't think she redacted it.

I don't think that's how it works.

- Oh, okay, I see.

- [Ryan] Diana's worries about being murdered

were exacerbated by the fact

that she believed her former bodyguard and lover,

Barry Mannakee, was similarly assassinated in a car crash.

In 2004, NBC aired a video featuring Diana

talking about her affair with Mannakee,

describing him as, "The greatest love I've ever had.

"It was all found out and he was chucked out.

"Then he was killed.

"I think he was bumped off."

Yeah.

So, obviously, like you were saying,

she was very suspicious, rightfully so.

I guess you could leave it at that.

- Yeah, I mean, she's probably terrified for her own life.

- Yeah; I still tend to believe dude was hammered,

he was driving a car, don't do that.

- Can't be going it.

- I can see why this would get the gears turning

in all the conspiracy theorists out there.

- Sure, sure!

- Firing up their engines, as they say.

- Yeah.

If something tragic happens to me,

even if it is very suspicious,

don't even bother talking about it.

Just move past it.

Talk about how much I loved my funny little cat and Sara.

And (laughing) Sara, sorry, I put Obi first there.

(both laughing)

- But then conspiracy theorists will say

that you were being coerced to say,

"Don't look into my suspicious death,"

and then they will in turn look into your suspicious death.

- Conspiracy theorists are a bunch of fucking losers.

(Ryan laughing)

- After examining 175 different theories

surrounding Princess Diana's death,

Operation Paget concluded none had any basis in reality,

determining the crash was, after all, a tragic accident.

Diana was beloved the world over,

both as an advocate for the sick and oppressed

and as a role model for women everywhere.

In her 1995 interview with the BBC,

Diana tried to explain the antagonism she'd face

while part of the royal family.

"I think every strong woman in history

"has to walk down a similar path,

"and I think it's the strength

"that causes the confusion and the fear.

"Why is she strong?

"Where does she get it from?

"Where is she taking it?

"Where is she going to use it."

Unfortunately, in the case of Diana, Princess of Wales,

the answer to those questions will remain unsolved.

(ominous music)

While it is tragic that getting entangled

in the royal family did ultimately lead to her death,

it was because of that royal family entanglement

that she was given the platform

to be a role model to women all around the world,

and she used that platform to be a philanthropist

and help people as opposed to tearing them down.

So, if there is something to focus on,

I would focus on that.

- Yeah.

Let's dismantle the monarchy.

Who needs it?

The fact that it was revolutionary

for her to be kind (laughing)

is really something to chew on, huh?

- That is true. (laughing)

- So...

Anyway, see you next week, everybody.

(Ryan laughing)

(uneasy suspenseful music)