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PARIS TRAGEDY

Why was Princess Diana in Paris when she died?

HEARTS across the nation shattered when Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

But why was she in Paris and who was she with?

Read our Princess Diana live blog for the latest updates

Princess Diana died in a car crash in August 1997
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Princess Diana died in a car crash in August 1997Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Get

Why was Princess Diana in Paris when she died?

It has been revealed that Princess Diana stayed in France's capital city for an extra day after a row over her land mines campaign.

Diana's ex-driver and minder Colin Tebbutt said an argument over her call for the mines to be banned convinced her to stay longer than planned.

She was expected to be back in London on August 28, 1997.

Mr Tebbutt told the : "She didn't come back on the Thursday as scheduled because the Tories were having a go at her again over landmines.

"She was accused of using the campaign to boost her own image, which was nasty and upset her.

"So she contacted us and said she didn't want all the hassle that would be waiting for her in the UK. She would return at the weekend instead."

Princess Diana died at the entrance of the Pont de l'Ama tunnel, close to Malar fire station in Paris.
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Princess Diana died at the entrance of the Pont de l'Ama tunnel, close to Malar fire station in Paris.Credit: AFP

Who was with Princess Diana in Paris?

The 36-year-old arrived in Paris with Egyptian film producer Dodi Al Fayed.

They were stopping in Paris en route to London, having spent nine days together on Fayed's yacht.

Her driver, Henri Paul and body guard Trevor Rees-Jones were also in the car at the time of the tragedy.

Dodi Fayed and Diana had been in Sardinia
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Dodi Fayed and Diana had been in Sardinia

Where had Princess Diana travelled to Paris from?

She had travelled to France with Fayed from Sardinia on a private jet.

They had planned on staying for a night as Fayed's dad Mohamed Al-Fayed was, and still is, the owner of the Hotel Ritz Paris.

Henri Paul, the deputy head of security at the Ritz, had been instructed to drive the hired black 1994 Mercedes-Benz to keep the Princess out of the media's eye.

A shocked Britain responds to the news of Princess Diana's death in 'Diana: 7 Days That Shook The Windsors'
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