Early 1997 (Jan- Mar)
References:
[1] Gordon Thomas, “Diana’s Secret Tapes Forced Charles to Admit He is At Center of Royal Scandal”, 10 Nov 2003.
[2] Gordon Thomas, “Diana’s Secret Tapes”, Canada Free Press, 4 Oct 2006.
[3] “Star Who Shone in Landmine Campaign”, Daily Star, 1 Sep 1997.
[4] “Hero Awards Party Sealed Princess Diana’s Fate”, Daily Star, 10 Oct 2013.
January 12-17 Diana visits Angola to support the British Red Cross’s campaign for a total ban of landmine. Her trip was attacked by junior defense minister Earl Howe for being “ill informed on the issue of anti-personnel mines” and “a loose cannon that Her Majesty’s government did not need”.
Jan 21, Diana has a secret meeting with Tony Blair.
In Feb, according to Simone Simmons in the hearing, Diana received a threatening phone call which told her that she shouldn’t interfere in matters she knows nothing about and “accidents can happen”. Diana believed the caller was Charles' close friend Nicholas Soames, the then Defence Minister.
According to [1][2], In late Feb, Diana started to contact a ex-BBC cameraman to help her to make some secret tapes. The first tape was made on March 7. The content was very explosive, and extremely hostile towards Charles. In one tape, Diana makes it clear that she would do everything possible to make sure Charles never became King. She wanted William to succeed to the Throne when the Queen died. The cameraman made a diary of this event. There are some suggestions she planned to use them as a bargaining tool. Other suggest she planned for them to be stored to secure her place in history.
"Arrived at KP (Kensington Palace) 7.45pm as prearranged. Taxi waved through by duty policeman. Diana waiting in drawing room as previous. Chatted while I set up. She sat in armchair, hands on lap. Asked me to frame only head and shoulders. She would signal with her hand when she wanted a break." -- The BBC Cameraman's diary
March 19, Diana suddenly decided to attend the Daily Star Gold Awards ceremony, which she always refused for years. She presented an award to former Royal Marine police captain, Chris Marine police captain, Chris Moon who lost a leg when trying to clear a landmine in Mozambique. Diana tells guests at the award, "Chris truly symbolises what selfless bravery is." Former Daily Star executive Michael Hellicar said: "We had been trying to get Diana along to the event for years but she always politely declined. Suddenly, in 1997 we received word she would attend"[3][4]. In the lunch afterwards, she had a long chat with Chris about landmine:
"We had a long chat about every aspect of the landmines issue. She was very interested in the detail of what was going on in different places to clear mines and to assist victims. We were discussing the best strategy for helping people and she knew it was not always straightforward. She was looking seriously at where the money was going and what was going to be the most effective and efficient course of action" -- Chris Moon
According to Simone Simmons' testimony to the inquest, Diana had been collected report of the manufacturing and trading of landmines, and she called it "Profiting Out Of Misery".
References:
[1] Gordon Thomas, “Diana’s Secret Tapes Forced Charles to Admit He is At Center of Royal Scandal”, 10 Nov 2003.
[2] Gordon Thomas, “Diana’s Secret Tapes”, Canada Free Press, 4 Oct 2006.
[3] “Star Who Shone in Landmine Campaign”, Daily Star, 1 Sep 1997.
[4] “Hero Awards Party Sealed Princess Diana’s Fate”, Daily Star, 10 Oct 2013.
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