The Diana Inquest: October 2007 - April 2008

[WindsorIII]

IMO I don't think that Diana used Dodi in the manner these latest stories say. However I would see it understandable that she would want to flaunt her new found love and happiness for Charles to see.

Its obvious that she did feel scorned and mistreated, and did go through a period of having to watch Charles happy with Camilla, which would be hard for any woman to watch. I know there are the arguments that she was just as much at fault and she should have known, and on and on, but often there is no logic when you talk about love and emotions and hurt, etc. Even the most logical person can turn into a raving lunitic over love or break ups. Not that everyone does, but my point is that people act irrationally sometimes in these types of situations. The logic goes right out the window.

So I can see why she would want to show both Charles and Camilla, hey I am happy too, I have found love in my life too.

I think this is more the case. I believe that she really had genuine feelings for Dodi.

[georgiea]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Diana probably couldn't bare not being the centre of attention. Like many ex's she probably thought she was entitled to have what she wanted taken into consideration. If Camilla was becoming accepted, where would that leave Diana.

This is a true thought Skydragon. And Princess Diana did use the media for her purpose and wanted a purpose for her life. But, I also think she compartmentalized her friendships she told many of her close women friends one thing and another thing to Dodi. She had the press follow her and in her once said, "with all these reporters following me why do something for a good cause." So, if anything I think she wanted to be an Ambassor(sp?) for Great Britian. And what Lucia said was what Diana wanted her close friends to see. Also, I think if we look at all sides Diana wanted an Ambassorship(sp), Prince Charles wanted to rule Great Britian and be married to Duchess Camilla, the Monarchy wanted peace, and Mr. al Fayed wanted to be accepted and the Press wanted readership-everybody had an agenda.

I don't know if this inquest will solve anything. I believe it is trying to really show everything possible. But to me it has open up questions like the white light, MI6 connections, a love blooming with Dodi, that up until now I just didn't know what to believe. I will still watch and make a judgement when the inquest is done just like the jury. And I hope that I have not offended anyone with all my ideas. I just love royalty and Princess Diana was special to me, I felt that I knew her and that life really is not a fairytale ending for anyone.

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by Warren

But here's the flaw: if Lucia Flecha de Lima is correct in stating that Diana was attempting to upstage Camilla (and/or her birthday party), then she is inferring that Diana was merely using Dodi as a tool to draw media attention to herself.

The delicious irony, if the above is the case, is that Mohammed Al Fayed was using Diana for his purposes, while Diana was using his son for hers. Messy, isn't it? Poor Dodi!

To me it was always obvious that al-Fayed was using Diana to thumb his nose up at the British establishment that had refused him a British passport. What better revenge towards those pesky Anglo-Saxons than have his Muslim son marry the mother of the future British king?

I think its impossible that Diana was ignorant of al-Fayed's intentions. His animosity towards the British establishment was very well known by the time she met Dodi. So like you say, she may have had her own intentions. I think its entirely possible that Diana agreed with al-Fayed's intentions of sticking it to the British establishment and the BRF. I also think she may have wanted to take part in the revenge so she could hurt the institution that she believed hurt her so deeply.

But as you also say, its all so senseless and tragic. Dodi and Diana lost their lives because of this little case of revenge.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Warren

But here's the flaw: if Lucia Flecha de Lima is correct in stating that Diana was attempting to upstage Camilla (and/or her birthday party), then she is inferring that Diana was merely using Dodi as a tool to draw media attention to herself.

The delicious irony, if the above is the case, is that Mohammed Al Fayed was using Diana for his purposes, while Diana was using his son for hers. Messy, isn't it? Poor Dodi!

And Dodi was for sure being used all his life, especially that summer by his father, so if Lima's theory is right, he was being double-used.

But in fact, the theory is not a new one. Long before Lima's testimony here, this theory of Diana wanting to upstage Camilla's birthday party has been discussed in print. The ilk of James Whittaker and like reporters treat it as fact that Diana's statement to the paparazzi ("wait to see what I do next") was a ploy to detract media attn. from the party onto Diana.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Warren

But here's the flaw: if Lucia Flecha de Lima is correct in stating that Diana was attempting to upstage Camilla (and/or her birthday party), then she is inferring that Diana was merely using Dodi as a tool to draw media attention to herself.

The delicious irony, if the above is the case, is that Mohammed Al Fayed was using Diana for his purposes, while Diana was using his son for hers. Messy, isn't it? Poor Dodi!

It is more than possible that they all had an agenda.

Diana is reported to have asked how Charles could prefer Camilla over her, as indeed did most of the media. The prancing and posing was Diana saying 'Look at me, look what you are missing'! Never perhaps realising that Charles wanted someone who understood him, had the same genuine interests, loved him despite his little foibles and was his equal intellectually.
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Half-empty contraceptive packets were seen among the belongings of Diana, Princess of Wales, when she sailed on a yacht days before her death, an inquest has been told.

Stewardess Saw Diana Contraceptives On Yacht Trip |Sky News|UK News

Diana, Princess of Wales was in possession of contraceptive pills while she was with Dodi Al Fayed, their inquest has been told

BBC NEWS | UK | Diana 'had contraceptive pills'

[PrincessofEurope]

"Diana is reported to have asked how Charles could prefer Camilla over her, as indeed did most of the media. The prancing and posing was Diana saying 'Look at me, look what you are missing'! Never perhaps realising that Charles wanted someone who understood him, had the same genuine interests, loved him despite his little foibles and was his equal intellectually. "

quote from Skydragon


Camilla - his equal intellectually

Diana herself admitted that she was not bright but Charles is not exactly the brain of Britain he only got into Cambridge because he was the Prince of Wales and future King by todays standards he wouldnt stand a chance of being there

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by PrincessofEurope

Camilla - his equal intellectually

Diana herself admitted that she was not bright but Charles is not exactly the brain of Britain he only got into Cambridge because he was the Prince of Wales and future King by todays standards he wouldnt stand a chance of being there

Just because someone has passed exams, does not make them intellectual or intelligent. Charles may have only got into uni due to who he was, although I doubt it based on some of the students nowadays.

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by PrincessofEurope

Diana herself admitted that she was not bright but Charles is not exactly the brain of Britain he only got into Cambridge because he was the Prince of Wales and future King by todays standards he wouldnt stand a chance of being there

How do you know that? Did you review his papers he submitted for academical review?

For me this is slander of the worst form. Cambridge has for centuries maintained the reputation for correct dealings when it comes to scientific research. I know of no case where a decision to name a student bachelor or master or even promote him to the degree of a doctor has ever been disputed. But if the academic world is content to name Charles as one of their fellowes, who are you to say that they would not longer accept him only because time has passed?

It is IMHO such an arrogance to go against the Cambridge judgement only because you have the idea that in the academic world a name could count more than research and quality! Please name one reknown fellow or chairholder at Cambridge to support your claim. If you can't, please refrain from throwing dirt at one of the most reknown sources for academic quality.

[Roslyn]

Originally Posted by PrincessofEurope

quote from Skydragon


Camilla - his equal intellectually

Diana herself admitted that she was not bright but Charles is not exactly the brain of Britain he only got into Cambridge because he was the Prince of Wales and future King by todays standards he wouldnt stand a chance of being there

Lack of an impressive degree does not necessarily signify that a person is not intelligent. Prince Charles may not be the "brain of Britain" but I'd venture to suggest that the total package of his intellectual abilities would place him in at least the top 25 percent or so of the population. He is a deep thinker with a disciplined mind and a range of intellectual interests and has become very knowledgeable about a lot of subjects.

ETA An interesting extract from the Dimbleby biography, page 146 of paperback edition:
"Lord Butler, the Master of Trinity, who had opposed the decision to interrupt the Prince's Cambridge studies by sending him to Aberystwyth, judged that in his final year he had been required to undertake far too many royal engagements. These, he thought, had handicapped the academic potential of a student who, he was reported as saying, was 'really very clever'".

[Jo of Palatine]

Originally Posted by Roslyn

Lack of an impressive degree does not necessarily signify that a person is not intelligent. Prince Charles may not be the "brain of Britain" but I'd venture to suggest that the total package of his intellectual abilities would place him in at least the top 25 percent or so of the population. He is a deep thinker with a disciplined mind and a range of intellectual interests and has become very knowledgeable about a lot of subjects.

ETA An interesting extract from the Dimbleby biography, page 146 of paperback edition:
"Lord Butler, the Master of Trinity, who had opposed the decision to interrupt the Prince's Cambridge studies by sending him to Aberystwyth, judged that in his final year he had been required to undertake far too many royal engagements. These, he thought, had handicapped the academic potential of a student who, he was reported as saying, was 'really very clever'".

But who is the "Master of Trinity College" when compared to the opinion to some others..... Sorry, but I have helped quite some people to pass academic exams and I have a deep respect of the way of thinking and the research that is required there. Plus I have a deep respect of prince Charles and the way he is able to view the world which is not simple and aristocratic but intellectually and academically well based while being full of common sense.

[ysbel]

Originally Posted by PrincessofEurope

quote from Skydragon


Camilla - his equal intellectually

Diana herself admitted that she was not bright but Charles is not exactly the brain of Britain he only got into Cambridge because he was the Prince of Wales and future King by todays standards he wouldnt stand a chance of being there

I don't think skydragon meant to say that Charles is an Einstein; she simply said that Diana was not Charles' intellectual equal. I think that is a fair statement.

However I think what Charles missed when he married Diana is that he didn't get a companion to discuss the things that were important to him - like his books and his theories on the environment and healthy living. It was Diana's lack of interest in scholarly pursuits like this and not necessarily her lack of intellect which made things so difficult and she was simply dumbfounded that being beautiful and enticing was not enough for Charles. In Diana's opinion, she felt she had all that it takes to attract and keep a man and she couldn't understand why men kept on letting her down. She was dumbfounded by Charles' need for an intellectual companion; she was caught offguard by Hasmet Khan's need for a private life away from the celebrity limelight. She just couldn't understand that being beautiful and glamorous and needing love was not enough to hold on to and keep every man.

FWIW I'm not sure that Camilla is Charles' intellectual equal but I believe that she at least makes a pretense of being interested in the same causes and issues as he does.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by PrincessofEurope

Camilla - his equal intellectually

I'm just a little bit confused. I don't understand whether you are saying Charles is not up to par with Camilla, or the vice versa? I don't understand how anyone can reach either conclusion, but if you are going by just the superficial academic credits, then I would say Charles must be the superior one, since Camilla does not have a university degree.

Diana herself admitted that she was not bright but Charles is not exactly the brain of Britain he only got into Cambridge because he was the Prince of Wales and future King by todays standards he wouldnt stand a chance of being there

Unfortunately, this argument is used against many people who are seen to have a certain amount of privilege that others' lack. Even if Charles were actually a genius and achieved perfect credentials, people would always say he got ahead by the advantage of his position.

[Roslyn]

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine

But who is the "Master of Trinity College" when compared to the opinion to some others..... Sorry, but I have helped quite some people to pass academic exams and I have a deep respect of the way of thinking and the research that is required there. Plus I have a deep respect of prince Charles and the way he is able to view the world which is not simple and aristocratic but intellectually and academically well based while being full of common sense.

I'm not sure what you point is here, Jo. Charles attended Trinity College, Cambridge, and I would have thought that the Master of Trinity would have known him well and would have been in a position to know what extra-curricular demands had taken Charles' attention away from his studies at Cambridge and would be in a position to know that he was "really very clever". I was not challenging Charles' intellect, but defending it, and I cited Lord Butler in support of my opinion.

[CasiraghiTrio]

I think I understand what Roslyn meant by the post about Butler's comment. I remember this particular extract from Dimbleby's book and I will just say that my impression is that Butler was simply expressing regret that Charles had too many royal engagements to juggle with his studies. Butler seemed (to me) to feel that Charles was indeed very clever but his exam results suffered as a consequence of having too many royal duties to detract from his course.

[Elspeth]

Originally Posted by Jo of Palatine