A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Aug. 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed as the car she was riding in crashed on the Pont de l’Alma bridge in Paris; her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul (who was found to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident) also died.
Many blamed the paparazzi, who hounded the former member of the royal family endlessly, and were following the limo as it sped away from a hotel on that fateful night.
The official inquiry said Paul was drunk and driving at twice the legal speed limit in an attempt to elude a posse of paparazzi when he lost control of the car and crashed. The crash was deemed an accident.
Barely a young woman when she joined the royal family, many Utahns, Americans and royal watchers had witnessed her successes and struggles play out on TV screens and newspaper front pages for 17 years. Once the British royal family’s brightest star, she was just 36 and, from all appearances, ready to embark on a new chapter in her life with Fayed.
The biggest reminder of Diana is a living one: her sons, William and Harry, and now, her grandchildren.
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about Diana, her final years as well as her legacy:
“Car crash kills Princess Diana”
“Investigation calls Diana crash an accident”
“Diana magically grows into her crown”
“Princess Diana honored on anniversary of death”
“Fans of Princess Diana gather to mark her death 25 years ago”
“Catastrophic last night for Di had romantic start”
“Diana’s bodyguard remembers hearing her calling out to Dodi”