The tragic death of Princess Diana in a 1997 car crash has haunted the British public for decades, shrouded in mystery and controversy.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-2775972.jpg)
Her passing left a void in the hearts of millions, earning her the everlasting title of the “People’s Princess” for her unwavering compassion and humanitarian efforts.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-76214680.jpg)
Despite the passage of 25 years, the circumstances surrounding that fateful night remain a source of intrigue and speculation.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-76214729.jpg)
On the night of August 31, 1997, Diana was in Paris with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/see-what-princess-diana-would-have-looked-like-today-at-age-56_13-680x1024.jpg)
They were accompanied by Diana’s driver, Henri Paul, and Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1440620301-1024x649.jpg)
Their journey took a disastrous turn as they were pursued by nine relentless paparazzi through the Pont de l’Alma tunnel.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1017908786-1024x538.jpg)
Henri Paul, attempting to evade the photographers, lost control of the car and crashed into a column.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/shutterstock_1297544869.jpg)
The impact was devastating, killing Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed instantly and leaving Diana and Rees-Jones critically injured.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1894066569.jpg)
Firefighters and emergency services arrived promptly, working frantically to save the victims.
Among them was firefighter Xavier Gourmelon, who would later reveal Diana’s poignant final words.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GettyImages-1202049907-1024x683.jpg)
On the 20th anniversary of her death, Gourmelon shared his chilling encounter on Good Morning Britain.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-172659499.jpg)
Initially unaware of Diana’s identity, he and his team approached the mangled wreckage.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/GettyImages-53591888.jpg)
Gourmelon recounted, “She looked at me and said, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened?’ before slipping back into unconsciousness.”
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/muslim-and-jewish-paramedics-pause-to-pray-together-in-powerful-photo_5.jpg)
The scene was chaotic, with emergency responders battling to stabilize Diana.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/shutterstock_1721662744.jpg)
Gourmelon attempted to calm her, assuring her they were there to help.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-1039729578.jpg)
However, as they extricated her from the car, Diana went into cardiac arrest.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/girl-says-vaping-everyday-for-3-years-left-her-in-a-coma_16.jpg)
“We gave her CPR and after 20 seconds, she regained consciousness,” Gourmelon explained.
She was quickly transferred to an ambulance, showing signs of recovery.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/heartbreaking-letter-sheds-light-on-the-queens-private-pain-after-princess-dianas-death_13.jpg)
Diana’s injuries seemed deceptively minor, with no visible blood and only shoulder trauma.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/shutterstock_1903368601.jpg)
Optimism prevailed as she was rushed to Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shutterstock_553616974.jpg)
But the hope was fleeting; at 4:00 AM, Diana suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/shutterstock_740140192.jpg)
Surgeons’ efforts to revive her proved futile, marking the end of an era.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/shutterstock_1014454810-2.jpg)
The ripple effects of Diana’s death reached Buckingham Palace almost immediately.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1324680613.jpg)
According to Christopher Andersen’s “King: The Life of Charles III,” the news shattered her ex-husband, Prince Charles.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/GettyImages-75378259.jpg)
Andersen described Charles as “ashen and trembling,” overwhelmed by the devastating news.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-172659499.jpg)
Palace staff found him collapsed in an armchair, weeping uncontrollably, a cry of pure anguish escaping his lips.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/see-what-princess-diana-would-have-looked-like-today-at-age-56_11.jpg)
Diana’s death not only devastated her family but also plunged the world into mourning.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-484217790-1024x683.jpg)
Born on July 1, 1961, Diana Spencer’s entry into royal life began with her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-150531533.jpg)
Despite a fairytale wedding watched by millions, their marriage was fraught with difficulties and public scrutiny.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/prince-charles-cruel-six-words-to-diana-were-most-hurtful-thing-he-could-have-said_14.jpg)
Diana’s struggles with depression, bulimia, and the pressures of royal duties were well-documented, but so was her resilience and commitment to charity work.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/see-what-princess-diana-would-have-looked-like-today-at-age-56_4.jpg)
Her humanitarian efforts spanned numerous causes, from landmine clearance to HIV/AIDS awareness.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/heartbreaking-letter-sheds-light-on-the-queens-private-pain-after-princess-dianas-death_15.jpg)
Diana’s warmth and accessibility earned her the moniker “People’s Princess,” a title that endures to this day.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/GettyImages-75378259.jpg)
Her public divorce from Charles in 1996 only heightened the media frenzy around her, making her every move a headline.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/heartbreaking-letter-sheds-light-on-the-queens-private-pain-after-princess-dianas-death_0.png)
On that fateful night in Paris, Diana sought a semblance of normalcy, a night out with Dodi Fayed.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/see-what-princess-diana-would-have-looked-like-today-at-age-56_1-683x1024.jpg)
The couple’s attempt to escape the prying eyes of the paparazzi culminated in a catastrophic accident that would claim Diana’s life.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/princess-diana-documentary-viewers-sickened-by-joke-made-by-prince-charles_17.png)
Gourmelon’s recollection of Diana’s final moments provides a heartbreaking glimpse into her last thoughts.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-858310250.jpg)
“She was agitated and confused, asking, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened?'” Gourmelon recalled.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/heartbreaking-letter-sheds-light-on-the-queens-private-pain-after-princess-dianas-death_16.jpg)
Despite the chaos, his efforts to comfort her in those final moments reflect a deep human connection amid tragedy.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-76214812.jpg)
Diana’s death sparked global mourning, with millions flocking to pay their respects.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/heartbreaking-letter-sheds-light-on-the-queens-private-pain-after-princess-dianas-death_15.jpg)
Her funeral, held on September 6, 1997, drew a worldwide television audience of over 2.5 billion.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/heartbreaking-letter-sheds-light-on-the-queens-private-pain-after-princess-dianas-death_18.png)
The outpouring of grief highlighted the profound impact she had on people from all walks of life.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/see-what-princess-diana-would-have-looked-like-today-at-age-56_9-665x1024.jpg)
As the years pass, the fascination with Diana’s life and untimely death endures.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/new-national-enquirer-theme-park-ride-lets-you-experience-the-car-crash-that-killed-princess-diana_11.jpg)
Conspiracy theories and speculative narratives continue to emerge, but the core truth remains.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/angry-viewers-demand-prince-charles-steps-aside-from-william-after-watching-princess-diana-documentary_3.jpg)
Diana’s legacy as the “People’s Princess” is cemented in history, a testament to her compassion and humanity.
![](https://twentytwowords.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-2775972.jpg)
Her final words, a poignant echo of her life’s vulnerability and grace, linger in our collective memory, a haunting reminder of what was lost.