Who Killed Princess Diana?

On the 16th of November 2023, Netflix premiered Season 6 of ‘The Crown.’ They called it Part 1 of the Grand Finale with only 4 Episodes. Part 2, which concludes the series, will be released in December with 6 Episodes. The TV series was first released on Netflix in November 2016. Inspired by real events, it tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.

The Crown, despite its royal trappings, is not a fairy tale. Throughout the previous five seasons, the creator and writer, Peter Morgan has pulled back the curtains and exposed the mechanisms underpinning the mystique of the Royal Family. This enabled viewers to visualise the Royal Family members as real and often flawed individuals at the core of the institution.

Princess Diana: A Symbol Of Hope And Resilience

The series focuses on Princess Diana, and her enduring legacy, which is explored with sensitivity and respect. It captures her compassion, unwavering spirit, and struggles with the pressures of royal life. The series also portrays the profound impact she had on those around her, as her death left an indelible mark on the world.

Mohamed Al-Fayed: A Man Obsessed With The British Upper Class

His character first appeared in Season 5 of ‘The Crown.’ The Episode was titled ‘Mou Mou’ which was a pet name given to him by his father. Despite his humble beginnings in Egypt, he was able to rise to prominence and wealth in British society. His character is portrayed as a man who is obsessed with power and status.

He saw his relationship with Princess Diana as an opportunity to prove himself and to be treated as an equal by the British establishment. He also desired British citizenship and Diana seemed to be the perfect ticket to achieving that.

He bought Villa Windsor in Paris which belonged to the late Edward VIII, the former King of England who abdicated the throne to marry his American sweetheart. Mohamed even employed the late King’s former butler to coach him on British manners and etiquette.

He manipulated his son Dodi to break up with his fiancee, Kelly, and marry Princess Diana. He hired a photographer to take pictures of his son and Diana together in the boat. The pictures were sold to the press just for him to let the whole world know that his son was dating the Princess. Diana got tired of the drama and decided to go back to London. Mohamed was upset that Dodi was about to lose Diana. He insisted that Dodi must propose to Diana before she leaves for London. That was the beginning of the journey which ended in tragedy.

Dodi Al-Fayed: A Man Constantly Seeking His Father’s Validation And Approval

His character first appeared in the same Season and Episode as his father’s. He was a charming and kind son of the Egyptian Billionaire, Mohamed Al-Fayed. He was never interested in Diana but his father manipulated him to break up with his fiancee and date Diana. He lived under his father’s shadow, constantly seeking his approval, and always doing whatever his father said without thinking it through. This made him come across as impulsive.

When he told his father that Diana was about to leave, his father instructed that he must take Diana to Paris and buy an engagement ring for her. Dodi was able to buy the ring amidst the mad frenzy of the paparazzi, who crawled all over them in Paris. Diana rejected his proposal and on their way back from the restaurant, the accident happened. Dodi died on the spot.

Henri Paul: The Driver At The Centre Of It All

The character of Henri Paul remains a shadowy figure but he was at the centre of the mystery. He drove them from the airport to Villa Windsor (according to Dodi’s father’s instruction, even when Dodi kicked against it). Later drove them to the restaurant where Dodi proposed to Diana. He may have thought that his job was done for the night because he was in the bar drinking when he was told he had to drive again. With his judgment clouded by alcohol and the pressure to outrun the paparazzi, he got in the car and drove just as he was told. Henri also died that night.

The Unanswered Question

As the first half of the series concludes, the question of who killed Princess Diana remains unanswered. However, the narrative does leave room for interpretation, allowing viewers to use the evidence presented to form their own conclusions. Here are mine, hypothetically speaking:

Would things have been different if Diana was not divorced by Charles because of Camilla?

Would it have been different if Mohamed Al-Fayed had not forced his son to date Diana?

Would it have ended differently if Dodi had called his father’s bluff and married his fiancee, Kelly?

What if Dodi had let Diana leave for London without insisting on going to Paris with her?

What if Diana did not date Dodi, knowing that he was already engaged?

Was it too hard for Diana to reject Dodi’s offer of travelling together to Paris when she was already scheduled to go to London?

Would the accident have been averted if someone else had driven the car that night instead of Henri Paul who was drunk?

A lot of ‘what ifs’ right? I am just sharing the thoughts that went through my mind as I cried. Yes, I cried profusely while I watched the movie because it was very emotional. I was very young when Princess Diana died but I watched the TV and I saw the whole world come to a standstill as they mourned her. ‘The Crown’ is a masterpiece. A blend of historical facts, personal accounts, and fictional elements, which resulted in a complex and captivating exploration of one of history’s most enduring mysteries: ‘Who Killed Princess Diana?’