The Diana Inquest: October 2007 - April 2008

[Jo of Palatine]

Your very thoughtful post has brought me full circle. I don’t like Diana, I never identified with her, nor did I ever admire her. I have been very clear on what I’ve thought of her actions, but here we are talking about someone who was flesh and blood. She paid the ultimate price for all the wrongs she’s done, when most of us get many chances, let’s say sadly it’s no one’s fault. It’s not my place to ask/say, but have mercy on her soul, she’s dead is that not enough? How depressing...

You surely have a point here but it is not our fault that the inquest has happened but through it, we have a chance to hear for the first time people's reminiscensing of Diana not filtered through journalists or author's of books but directly. And I think it's very interesting to hear especially the witnesses who have not spoken up before but do so now to help, those who never made a farthing even though they could. Myriah Daniels explained that in an interesting way: what happened to her once it became known that she had been a part of the company of people surrounding Diana and Dodi on their last journey:

I would like for you to be aware of the fact
13 that what I did with Channel 5, "Last days of
14 a Princess" --after Scotland Yard identified me in
15 their report as having been there, because nobody knew
16 I was there, and I started getting lots of calls, people
17 tracking me down, and people were offering money to me
18 right, left and sideways, and the bottom line was -- as
19 I asked "Who are you and what are you doing?"
20 Channel 5 was the only one -- it was Discovery
21 Channel, the Learning Channel, they were the only ones
22 who did not offer me money, but they offered me
23 something that they did on a documentary on World War II
24 and on 911 and I actually was impressed with what they
25 did in their re-animation of an event and I went there
and I did that. I was not paid for it.

If you compare that to Simone Simmons, who "doesn't have a clue" how much she made from her books - Come on!

So I think this is a unique chance to follow the inquest and to talk about the picture that emerges of the princess, how it fits in with the information given by the authors of books and journalists. We're always trying to discuss here on using halfways reliable sources so this is a chance not to miss out. Even though you're right: she is dead, she cannot defend herself but she was a person of global history and thus is an object of historical research.

 

[Duchess]

i've just read the cnn piece...not sure if burrell is finished his testimony but i didn't see any bombshell's there....nothing that we didn't already know. is he going to be testifying tomorrow?

 

[Duchess]

I just read Lucia Flecha de Lima's statement that she had read the letter prince Philip wrote to Diana on June 18th and that it was a nice and helpful letter. he wrote it two days after the Morton book was published, so I guess if he was not nasty then, he never was. That much to the question of the prince's "nasty" letters.

i have a good feeling about this lady. she appears to have been one of the most solid and reliable people in diana's life and that would lead me to believe that this statement would be one of the most reliable pieces of evidence. people take things in different ways and perhaps if diana were not in a good frame of mind the day she read philip's letter she might have taken something out of context or misconstrued the meaning.

 

[pinkie40]

You surely have a point here but it is not our fault that the inquest has happened but through it, we have a chance to hear for the first time people's reminiscensing of Diana not filtered through journalists or author's of books but directly. And I think it's very interesting to hear especially the witnesses who have not spoken up before but do so now to help, those who never made a farthing even though they could. Myriah Daniels explained that in an interesting way: what happened to her once it became known that she had been a part of the company of people surrounding Diana and Dodi on their last journey:

I would like for you to be aware of the fact
13 that what I did with Channel 5, "Last days of
14 a Princess" --after Scotland Yard identified me in
15 their report as having been there, because nobody knew
16 I was there, and I started getting lots of calls, people
17 tracking me down, and people were offering money to me
18 right, left and sideways, and the bottom line was -- as
19 I asked "Who are you and what are you doing?"
20 Channel 5 was the only one -- it was Discovery
21 Channel, the Learning Channel, they were the only ones
22 who did not offer me money, but they offered me
23 something that they did on a documentary on World War II
24 and on 911 and I actually was impressed with what they
25 did in their re-animation of an event and I went there
and I did that. I was not paid for it.

If you compare that to Simone Simmons, who "doesn't have a clue" how much she made from her books - Come on!

So I think this is a unique chance to follow the inquest and to talk about the picture that emerges of the princess, how it fits in with the information given by the authors of books and journalists. We're always trying to discuss here on using halfways reliable sources so this is a chance not to miss out. Even though you're right: she is dead, she cannot defend herself but she was a person of global history and thus is an object of historical research.

I have to question the lawyer for asking that line of questioning to Simone...regarding her profits from Diana...and I wonder if he asked that same line of questioning from Wharfe and/or Burrell on how much to the penny and pence they made.

That being said, Simone was present during a time when Diana was on some sort of quest that was leading her away from the teachings of the COE to New Age thought and Islam. Also, I believe Diana poured her soul and secrets out to people like Simone and it would have been helpful if the lawyer had not focused so much on Simone's personal profits but on how much Diana relied on her as a prophetess!

Simone was extraordinarily vocal on CNN on the 10th anniversary of the crash speaking about her concern as to "why" the Alma tunnel was washed down after the crash.

 

[Skydragon]

i've just read the cnn piece...not sure if burrell is finished his testimony but i didn't see any bombshell's there....nothing that we didn't already know. is he going to be testifying tomorrow?

Ex-Butler Paul Burrell Arrives To Give Evidence At Diana Inquest |Sky News|UK News

Paul Burrell has told a High Court hearing he approached his wife's priest towards the end of 1996 to ask about the possibility of a private marriage.
Did anyone mention this to Khan?

Well, I was at the hub of the wheel and everyone else was on a spoke. I connected all the Princess's friends and all her world. It all came to the centre and to me.
He seems to be under the illusion that he was the centre of her universe!

 

[Duchess]

Ex-Butler Paul Burrell Arrives To Give Evidence At Diana Inquest |Sky News|UK News

Paul Burrell has told a High Court hearing he approached his wife's priest towards the end of 1996 to ask about the possibility of a private marriage.
Did anyone mention this to Khan?

Well, I was at the hub of the wheel and everyone else was on a spoke. I connected all the Princess's friends and all her world. It all came to the centre and to me.
He seems to be under the illusion that he was the centre of her universe!

yeah but none of this is new....his book talks about inquiring about marriage to khan and his overblown sense of self importance is well known. so i'm still left wondering where the bombshells are and if he has anything new or important to add or if this is just one more opportunity to put himself back into the spotlight???

 

[pinkie40]

I just caught the last few moments of a live news report on "CNN Headline News" outside the courtroom of the inquest. I believe Paul Burrell has been ask to reappear tomorrow with some letters in his possession.

 

[Jo of Palatine]

I just caught the last few moments of a live news report on "CNN Headline News" outside the courtroom of the inquest. I believe Paul Burrell has been ask to reappear tomorrow with some letters in his possession.

Yes, he acknowledged having possession of certain documents but then tried to tell the attorneys that these documents have been destroyed and now all attorneys including the coroner himself are very keen on getting their hands on the material... LOL. Quite unpleasant for Burrell, for her has to travel tonight with an escort to Cheshire to his home there to get the material and to return tomorrow from 12.00 am to talk about these documents. Well, I quite had a laugh about it. Serves him right, IMHO.

 

[BeatrixFan]

Ugh, is anyone else sickened by this old queen wheeling out his tired line of waffle? He apparantly told friends he was going to be in all the headlines with an explosive revelation - unfortunately for him we all knew he was a friend of Dorothy's the moment he took a fancy to Di's dresses.

 

[iowabelle]

Ex-Butler Paul Burrell Arrives To Give Evidence At Diana Inquest |Sky News|UK News

Paul Burrell has told a High Court hearing he approached his wife's priest towards the end of 1996 to ask about the possibility of a private marriage.
Did anyone mention this to Khan?

I'm assuming he's referring to a Catholic priest since Maria B. is Catholic. I CANNOT imagine any Catholic priest agreeing to marry a non-Catholic divorcee princess to a Muslim man. It would even seem silly to me to approach a Catholic priest with such a question.

And what's the point of the little farce about revealing the name of the mystery royal who warned Diana that her apartments were bugged?

 

[Skydragon]

I'm assuming he's referring to a Catholic priest since Maria B. is Catholic. I CANNOT imagine any Catholic priest agreeing to marry a non-Catholic divorcee princess to a Muslim man. It would even seem silly to me to approach a Catholic priest with such a question.

And what's the point of the little farce about revealing the name of the mystery royal who warned Diana that her apartments were bugged?

I too am puzzled as to why he would approach his wife's catholic priest, Diana was not a catholic. As you say the rules concerning divorce are even stricter than the CoE. Reading through the transcript, they told Hasnat the day after he had been to see the priest and they had also prepared rooms for him at KP, without checking with Hasnat or HM!

Frances, if she did in fact call Diana a whore, would have done so because she had become a strict catholic, where in Scotland even marrying somebody from the CoE was marrying the devil incarnate!

I add, if she did in fact call her that!

I have no idea what the problem is with naming the royal Diana said had warned her, unless it is someone who is willing and able to deny it, thus resulting in a perjury trial.

 

[iowabelle]

It's a puzzle about this priest. I would think that if you wanted a "quiet" wedding, you'd get a non-religious official to perform it for you. You wouldn't run to a Catholic priest because there are so many rules. (My parents, Catholic and Lutheran, jumped through hoops in the 1960s -- and at least my father was a Christian, whereas Hasnat Khan is not.)

And, unfortunately, I think Frances was a racist. In her world Muslim men just wouldn't be allowed to marry an aristocratic English woman.

IMO that's too bad. I think love can triumph over things like race and religion, although it's more difficult... and Hasnat Khan seems to have been the only true gentleman in Diana's life. (I bet he could have made a HUGE fortune writing a book about her.) My respect to Dr. Khan.

 

[Jo of Palatine]

I too am puzzled as to why he would approach his wife's catholic priest, Diana was not a catholic.

He implies that Diana went with him to that chapel or church for her prayer - maybe she was really on converting to become aCatholic. Once a Catholic she could have had her marriage annulled... but that leads nowwhere as Catholics normally don't marry muslims...

As for having Dr. Khan move into KP - now that is what I call tasteless. She could have well afforded to buy her own place in London if she wanted to cohabitate with her new man.

 

[pinkie40]

***I was speechless when I read the latest on FOXnews regarding Diana's mother, the specific label she called her daughter and the other line describing her behaviour. No wonder Diana made it a point to appear in public and as a friend with Acid Raine.

I was confused to whether Paul has a diary/journal or not. Seems before lunch he had a journal and after lunch he didn't.

 

[TheTruth]

What a terrible way to treat her daughter ! If it's actually true, how hurtful it must have been for Diana. I'll never understand how a family can be so cruel with its own members ...

 

[sirhon11234]

As for having Dr. Khan move into KP - now that is what I call tasteless. She could have well afforded to buy her own place in London if she wanted to cohabitate with her new man.

Why is it tasteless, the apartments belonged to Diana and she payed rent or some type mortgage to the queen. It really wasn't anyone's business who Diana moved into her apartments.

 

[Chimene]

Diana, I'm afraid never stood a chance...

 

[Skydragon]

It's a puzzle about this priest. I would think that if you wanted a "quiet" wedding, you'd get a non-religious official to perform it for you. You wouldn't run to a Catholic priest because there are so many rules. (My parents, Catholic and Lutheran, jumped through hoops in the 1960s -- and at least my father was a Christian, whereas Hasnat Khan is not.)

And, unfortunately, I think Frances was a racist. In her world Muslim men just wouldn't be allowed to marry an aristocratic English woman.

IMO that's too bad. I think love can triumph over things like race and religion, although it's more difficult... and Hasnat Khan seems to have been the only true gentleman in Diana's life. (I bet he could have made a HUGE fortune writing a book about her.) My respect to Dr. Khan.

Whether it is a catholic weddings or CoE they have to read the banns, 3 weeks in advance of the wedding. A civil ceremony, I believe requires notification by both parties and a posting on the board of intention to marry for 15 days. No way could Diana have had a quiet wedding in the UK. The board at registry offices are a normal hangout for reporters.

I don't know about Frances, I hate to think that she was a racist, she cut such a lonely figure and I always felt so sorry for her and the way she lost custody of her children.

 

[Skydragon]

Why is it tasteless, the apartments belonged to Diana and she payed rent or some type mortgage to the queen. It really wasn't anyone's business who Diana moved into her apartments.

The apartment did not belong to Diana, she lived there, rent free afaik, out of the kindness of HM's heart.
The Royal Residences > Kensington Palace

 

[TheTruth]

-SNIPPED-

I don't know about Frances, I hate to think that she was a racist, she always cut such a lonely figure and I always felt so sorry for her and the way she lost custody of her children.

Yes, that's what saddens me the most : to have compassion for this woman after all she's been through but at the same time some hatred for her racist assertions and her contempt toward her own daughter. Frances had a controversial/ two-sided personality that people also see in Diana.

 

[Fabulous Fake]

Having read the transcripts of today's evidence,I feel quite strongly that Paul Burrell will not produce the requested documents tomorrow.
Of course,I could be quite wrong but there's a whole lot about today that just doesn't ring true to me.

 

[sirhon11234]

The apartment did not belong to Diana, she lived there, rent free afaik, out of the kindness of HM's heart.
The Royal Residences > Kensington Palace

So the present royals who live at KP the Kents and Gloucesters do not own their aparments?

It is rather tacky that she would bring a man into her rent free apartments. She could have bought a condominium in London. Doesen't London have condos?

 

[Skydragon]

So the present royals who live at KP the Kents and Gloucesters do not own their aparments?

It is rather tacky that she would bring a man into her rent free apartments. She could have bought a condominium in London. Doesen't London have condos?

No they don't own their apartments, Princess Margaret didn't either. I believe they pay what is called a peppercorn rent, which would be well below the cost of renting an apartment of that size in a good area of London. We don't have condominiums, but we do have flats, apartments and of course houses of varying sizes. I don't think Diana thought it through, if it is true.

 

[Roslyn]

I don't have any problem at all with Diana taking men to KP. I think she was given the apartments as a London home till the boys left school or something. I'm not sure of the details. If it was her home, it was nobody's business who went there.

ETA I should read things thoroughly before I respond. Seems we're talking about moving him in to live with her. That's an entirely different kettle of fish, and not at all appropriate.

Now I must go and read the transcript before I make any more uninformed comments.

 

[BeatrixFan]

I agree with Roslyn, why shouldn't she have taken men to KP? It was her home, she was an adult, alot of adults do it - I'd be more suprised if she hadn't.

 

[Skydragon]

I wouldn't be comfortable with her bringing men into the apartments, there was always the possibility that they could bump into Princess Margaret. But as you say she was an adult, moving someone in however, is a different matter. If she wanted to play at Mrs Khan, then she should have the decency to find their own place.

 

[BeatrixFan]

But Princess Margaret could hardly raise an eyebrow could she? And she was hardly playing Mrs Khan was she? Casual sex doesn't equate to marriage.

 

[sirhon11234]

I agree with Roslyn, why shouldn't she have taken men to KP? It was her home, she was an adult, alot of adults do it - I'd be more suprised if she hadn't.

No, BeatrixFan we were discussing if Diana moved a man into her KP apartments.

 

[Skydragon]

But Princess Margaret could hardly raise an eyebrow could she? And she was hardly playing Mrs Khan was she? Casual sex doesn't equate to marriage.

If it had been casual sex, that is one thing and I'm not sure that would have been a good for the boys to hear about. However, according to Burrell, she was moving him in on a permanent basis and that would be causing HM some headaches if that happened.

 

[BeatrixFan]

Well, moving a man in is completely different and I'd agree that it would be totally wrong. I thought Bumroll was suggesting that Diana and Hasnat Khan had a physical relationship which took place in KP. Which I wouldn't see a problem with but yes, moving him in would have been a bit much.