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Diana: Case Solved: The Definitive Account That Proves What Really Happened
“This particular phase in my life is the most dangerous. My husband is planning ‘an accident’ in my car, brake failure and serious head injury in order to make the path clear for him to marry.” —Letter written by Princess Diana, late 1996
It is a moment that remains frozen in history. When the Mercedes carrying Diana, Princess of Wales, spun fatally out of control in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris in August 1997, the world was shocked by what appeared to be a terrible accident.
But two decades later, the circumstances surrounding what really happened that night—and, crucially, why it happened—remain mired in suspicion, controversy, and misinformation. Until now. Dylan Howard has re-examined all of the evidence surrounding Diana’s death—official documents, eyewitness testimony and Diana’s own private journals—as well as amassing dozens of new interviews with investigators, witnesses, and those closest to the princess to ask one very simple question: Was the death of Princess Diana a tragedy…or treason?
Diana: Case Solved has uncovered in unprecedented detail just how much of a threat Diana became to the establishment. In these pages you will learn of the covert diaries and recordings she made, logging the Windsors’ most intimate secrets and hidden scandals as a desperate kind of insurance policy. You will learn how the royals were not the only powerful enemies she made, as her ground-breaking campaigns against AIDS and landmines drew admiration from the public, but also enmity from powerful establishment figures including international arms dealers, the British and American governments, and the MI6 and the CIA.
And, in a dramatic return to the Parisian streets where she met her fate, the two questions that have plagued investigators for over twenty years will finally be answered: Why was Diana being driven in a car previously written off as a death trap? And who was really behind the wheel of the mysterious white Fiat at the scene of the crash?
It is a moment that remains frozen in history. When the Mercedes carrying Diana, Princess of Wales, spun fatally out of control in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris in August 1997, the world was shocked by what appeared to be a terrible accident.
But two decades later, the circumstances surrounding what really happened that night—and, crucially, why it happened—remain mired in suspicion, controversy, and misinformation. Until now. Dylan Howard has re-examined all of the evidence surrounding Diana’s death—official documents, eyewitness testimony and Diana’s own private journals—as well as amassing dozens of new interviews with investigators, witnesses, and those closest to the princess to ask one very simple question: Was the death of Princess Diana a tragedy…or treason?
Diana: Case Solved has uncovered in unprecedented detail just how much of a threat Diana became to the establishment. In these pages you will learn of the covert diaries and recordings she made, logging the Windsors’ most intimate secrets and hidden scandals as a desperate kind of insurance policy. You will learn how the royals were not the only powerful enemies she made, as her ground-breaking campaigns against AIDS and landmines drew admiration from the public, but also enmity from powerful establishment figures including international arms dealers, the British and American governments, and the MI6 and the CIA.
And, in a dramatic return to the Parisian streets where she met her fate, the two questions that have plagued investigators for over twenty years will finally be answered: Why was Diana being driven in a car previously written off as a death trap? And who was really behind the wheel of the mysterious white Fiat at the scene of the crash?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 17, 2019
144 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 16, 2020
I fail to see how the case is “solved”
Nothing new came to light from reading this book.
It was overly repetitive I felt like as each chapter went on it was just a recap of the previous chapters.
Very disappointed.
If possible I’d rate it 0.5 stars
Nothing new came to light from reading this book.
It was overly repetitive I felt like as each chapter went on it was just a recap of the previous chapters.
Very disappointed.
If possible I’d rate it 0.5 stars
January 1, 2020
For such a provocative title there was really very little new information on the case.
November 26, 2019
Nothing new and nothing solved.
September 19, 2025
I enjoyed this book even though it's not really a subject I've never thought about before. it's been on the reading list for a while though, so I figured I would get to it this year now I've finished my reading challenge.
some thing(s) I liked:
✅well written
✅thorough
✅the authors tone was personable even though the subject matter was heavy and horrid
✅looked at all angles and seemed to put both sides where possible
some thing(s), not so much:
⭕quite honestly, the depth in which the Princess's sex life was delved into tarnished the (albeit hazy) view I had of her. I had really thought she was better than that, but I do still understand she was naive and extremely emotionally unintelligent when she met Charles. Diana was abused in her marriage, there's no 2 ways about it. emotionally, mentally at the very least.
⭕IT DIDN'T ACTUALLY TELL ME WHAT REALLY HAPPENED!!
some thing(s) I liked:
✅well written
✅thorough
✅the authors tone was personable even though the subject matter was heavy and horrid
✅looked at all angles and seemed to put both sides where possible
some thing(s), not so much:
⭕quite honestly, the depth in which the Princess's sex life was delved into tarnished the (albeit hazy) view I had of her. I had really thought she was better than that, but I do still understand she was naive and extremely emotionally unintelligent when she met Charles. Diana was abused in her marriage, there's no 2 ways about it. emotionally, mentally at the very least.
⭕IT DIDN'T ACTUALLY TELL ME WHAT REALLY HAPPENED!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2020
Confirms my beliefs
This book once more confirms everything I believed since that August night in 1977. This was no random car accident. I don't entirely blame the paps for what happened. But I still believe the white Fiat Uno was more than a passing error. The fact that Mr Thane refuses to answer any questions whatsoever about that night and why he was in such a rush to paint the car red speaks volumes.
I have seen the so called engagement ring when Mr al Fayed had it displayed at Harrod's. A beautiful ring, to be sure. But an engagement ring? I feel that was more wishful thinking on Mr Al Fayed's part. Diana and Dodi had not known each other long enough to have made that major of a comittment. Not that it matters now.
I hope that, with this book, people can now move past that horrific night and simply remember Diana for the beautiful, caring and amazing woman and mother that she was. Her many good deeds will live on throughout history. We were all lucky to have her as long as we did.
This book once more confirms everything I believed since that August night in 1977. This was no random car accident. I don't entirely blame the paps for what happened. But I still believe the white Fiat Uno was more than a passing error. The fact that Mr Thane refuses to answer any questions whatsoever about that night and why he was in such a rush to paint the car red speaks volumes.
I have seen the so called engagement ring when Mr al Fayed had it displayed at Harrod's. A beautiful ring, to be sure. But an engagement ring? I feel that was more wishful thinking on Mr Al Fayed's part. Diana and Dodi had not known each other long enough to have made that major of a comittment. Not that it matters now.
I hope that, with this book, people can now move past that horrific night and simply remember Diana for the beautiful, caring and amazing woman and mother that she was. Her many good deeds will live on throughout history. We were all lucky to have her as long as we did.
August 14, 2020
The Dr Phil recommendation should have been my first clue. Also, this book could have used a 5th grader to give it a good edit.
October 7, 2022
Intense, hard to put down
I'm so glad you wrote this side of the story. We the public deserve the truth and not some cover up. I pray that one day the entire story comes out because we do want to know and there needs to be closure, the grandchildren deserve to know too when they become adults. Please don't stop until you learn the whole story. The truth will set you free!
I'm so glad you wrote this side of the story. We the public deserve the truth and not some cover up. I pray that one day the entire story comes out because we do want to know and there needs to be closure, the grandchildren deserve to know too when they become adults. Please don't stop until you learn the whole story. The truth will set you free!
May 21, 2023
Diana: Case Solved might have opened with “Once upon a time …” because it is the story of a princess and a complete fairytale.
Readers impressed by the credentials of author Colin McLaren, a retired Australian detective, should bear in mind co-author Dylan Howard was the Editor-in-Chief of The National Enquirer, a publication devoid of integrity or ethics. Unsurprisingly, considering paparazzi feed the tabloid beast, the authors absolve them of any culpability for Princess Diana’s death. Conflict of interest? Mais oui! But I am getting ahead of myself.
The book which is a conspiracy theorist’s account of Princess Diana’s death is a morass of self-aggrandisement, criticism of law enforcement, conflicting evidence and defamatory statements in a theatre of the absurd. The authors even indulge in speculation about what might have been if Diana had survived. I found these passages particularly offensive for the implication the authors possess a whit of insight into Diana’s character.
Where to begin when my incredulity ignited the moment McLaren hopped a plane to France in the aftermath of the accident. Seriously, WTF? I accept the case may pique McLaren’s interest but did he really prophesise corruption and ineptitude from the get-go? Think about it. If French police were conducting a thorough exemplary investigation, McLaren would have been banished from the scene. But, fortuitously for McLaren, authorities were botching the investigation.
I concede the investigation may constitute a right royal – pardon the pun – fuck-up. Who would fail to preserve the evidence and secure the scene of an accident which claimed the life of the most famous woman in the world? Who would allow paparazzi and other hangers-on to traipse through the scene, camera shutters clicking? What could possibly take precedence over an incident of global import? The dereliction of duty may be so baffling the mind inevitably turns to conspiracy or cover-up. However, the book reads as though the editor forgot to omit conflicting narratives regarding evidence, cause, motive and opportunity.
McLaren portrays Henri Paul, the Mercedes driver, as either paralytically drunk or stone cold sober on the fateful night. Witnesses speculate Paul may be an alcoholic and was certainly drinking earlier that evening but the book later claims Paul’s blood sample, submitted for toxicology, was switched with a sample sourced from an alcoholic. Sacré bleu!
The cause of the accident is also mired in contradictions. Paul lost control of the Mercedes because he was: (a) drunk; (b) speeding; (c) clipped by a second vehicle; (d) blinded by a light deliberately flashed in his eyes; (e) all of the above. The evidence does point to a second vehicle and the flash was possibly a speed camera activated by the Mercedes’ excessive speed (estimated at 190 kph).
The authors assign great significance to the second vehicle. They go to lengths to track the alleged driver whose only crime appears to be fleeing the scene of the accident. One of his two interviews is transcribed verbatim revealing nothing probative except an admission he was advised not to participate in the British inquest. But he never admits to being at the scene in the first place.
Did the vehicle contribute to the accident? Perhaps, in the way a dog running onto the road contributes to an accident. The likely scenario is drunken Paul in a speeding projectile Mercedes connected with the vehicle. However, it is unlikely either the flash or the second vehicle was causative because the Mercedes was careening out of control before it entered the tunnel.
On the topic of causation, I return to the aforementioned exoneration of the paparazzi which is based on the authors’ stupefying logic. Apparently, the Mercedes’ power and speed allowed it to zoom ahead before it reached the tunnel; albeit with paps in hot pursuit. What is the French term for WTF? Remove the paparazzi’s relentless pursuit from the equation and Diana and Dodi are cruising in the decoy car or, at worst, with drunken Henri Paul not driving at breakneck speed. No one but the authors and paps think otherwise. Frankly at this point, the authors’ credibility was on a slippery slope somewhere south of zero.
The authors dither over motive too. There is perfunctory mention of Diana’s campaign against landmines and its financial ramifications for weapons dealers. There is a rumour Diana is pregnant to Dodi paving the way for a blended family of the heir, the spare and an illegitimate Egyptian Muslim child.
However, the emphasis is primarily on the Monarchy, particularly Charles. The story is Diana is a keeper of secrets. Her knowledge and proof of Charles’ transgressions, notably bisexuality and homosexual affairs, are her insurance policy against Charles having her terminated to marry Camilla. Scorned women are a mainstay of conspiracy theories and Diana: Case Solved is no exception. Scorned women inevitably know too much and, sigh, are deemed loose cannons who must be silenced.
While the motives are dubious, the modus operandi is beyond the pale. How to murder the most recognisable woman in the world? If vehicular homicide is the objective, why take a chance on an intoxicated speeding alternate driver rather than the more reliable method of orchestrating mechanical failure? Further, how to ensure Diana is not wearing a seatbelt because even the authors concede she may have survived if she had been. The ineptitude of the MO eclipses the ineptitude of the subsequent investigation.
The title of the book Diana: Case Solved is a misnomer because nothing is “solved”. There is no compelling evidence of a crime or illuminating revelations about the accident, victims or Monarchy. Events are viewed through the prism of a preconceived lens. For example, the paparazzi at the crash site on the night claim police assaulted them and confiscated film and cameras. The authors interpret it as proof of the conspiracy / cover-up hypothesis. They seemingly never consider the possibility the police were disgusted by greedy insatiable vultures photographing a dying woman and the devastating effects of publishing the photographs.
The book suffers from being the product of two disparate authors. The detective may be a credible source but the book bears the grubby hallmarks of tabloid “journalism”. Its sensationalism, innuendo, implausible evidence and reliance on anonymous sources are consistent with the ethos of The National Enquirer.
Unfortunately, the Royal family are easy targets for the gutter press. Even in litigious times, the Monarchy is notoriously reluctant to challenge spurious baseless allegations in courts of law. Harry and Meghan prove anyone can publish defamatory comments with complete impunity. Therefore, we should read nothing into Charles’ or the Monarchy’s refusal to respond to rumours and accusations like those in Diana: Case Solved.
Sadly, the book was never going to end “they lived happily ever after”. My critique is not merely the book lacks merit. The book lacks empathy and compassion too. Diana’s sons must contend with another trashy account of their mother’s death which not only demonises their father but, perversely, defends the paparazzi. Honte á vous, McLaren and Howard, or in English “shame on you”.
Readers impressed by the credentials of author Colin McLaren, a retired Australian detective, should bear in mind co-author Dylan Howard was the Editor-in-Chief of The National Enquirer, a publication devoid of integrity or ethics. Unsurprisingly, considering paparazzi feed the tabloid beast, the authors absolve them of any culpability for Princess Diana’s death. Conflict of interest? Mais oui! But I am getting ahead of myself.
The book which is a conspiracy theorist’s account of Princess Diana’s death is a morass of self-aggrandisement, criticism of law enforcement, conflicting evidence and defamatory statements in a theatre of the absurd. The authors even indulge in speculation about what might have been if Diana had survived. I found these passages particularly offensive for the implication the authors possess a whit of insight into Diana’s character.
Where to begin when my incredulity ignited the moment McLaren hopped a plane to France in the aftermath of the accident. Seriously, WTF? I accept the case may pique McLaren’s interest but did he really prophesise corruption and ineptitude from the get-go? Think about it. If French police were conducting a thorough exemplary investigation, McLaren would have been banished from the scene. But, fortuitously for McLaren, authorities were botching the investigation.
I concede the investigation may constitute a right royal – pardon the pun – fuck-up. Who would fail to preserve the evidence and secure the scene of an accident which claimed the life of the most famous woman in the world? Who would allow paparazzi and other hangers-on to traipse through the scene, camera shutters clicking? What could possibly take precedence over an incident of global import? The dereliction of duty may be so baffling the mind inevitably turns to conspiracy or cover-up. However, the book reads as though the editor forgot to omit conflicting narratives regarding evidence, cause, motive and opportunity.
McLaren portrays Henri Paul, the Mercedes driver, as either paralytically drunk or stone cold sober on the fateful night. Witnesses speculate Paul may be an alcoholic and was certainly drinking earlier that evening but the book later claims Paul’s blood sample, submitted for toxicology, was switched with a sample sourced from an alcoholic. Sacré bleu!
The cause of the accident is also mired in contradictions. Paul lost control of the Mercedes because he was: (a) drunk; (b) speeding; (c) clipped by a second vehicle; (d) blinded by a light deliberately flashed in his eyes; (e) all of the above. The evidence does point to a second vehicle and the flash was possibly a speed camera activated by the Mercedes’ excessive speed (estimated at 190 kph).
The authors assign great significance to the second vehicle. They go to lengths to track the alleged driver whose only crime appears to be fleeing the scene of the accident. One of his two interviews is transcribed verbatim revealing nothing probative except an admission he was advised not to participate in the British inquest. But he never admits to being at the scene in the first place.
Did the vehicle contribute to the accident? Perhaps, in the way a dog running onto the road contributes to an accident. The likely scenario is drunken Paul in a speeding projectile Mercedes connected with the vehicle. However, it is unlikely either the flash or the second vehicle was causative because the Mercedes was careening out of control before it entered the tunnel.
On the topic of causation, I return to the aforementioned exoneration of the paparazzi which is based on the authors’ stupefying logic. Apparently, the Mercedes’ power and speed allowed it to zoom ahead before it reached the tunnel; albeit with paps in hot pursuit. What is the French term for WTF? Remove the paparazzi’s relentless pursuit from the equation and Diana and Dodi are cruising in the decoy car or, at worst, with drunken Henri Paul not driving at breakneck speed. No one but the authors and paps think otherwise. Frankly at this point, the authors’ credibility was on a slippery slope somewhere south of zero.
The authors dither over motive too. There is perfunctory mention of Diana’s campaign against landmines and its financial ramifications for weapons dealers. There is a rumour Diana is pregnant to Dodi paving the way for a blended family of the heir, the spare and an illegitimate Egyptian Muslim child.
However, the emphasis is primarily on the Monarchy, particularly Charles. The story is Diana is a keeper of secrets. Her knowledge and proof of Charles’ transgressions, notably bisexuality and homosexual affairs, are her insurance policy against Charles having her terminated to marry Camilla. Scorned women are a mainstay of conspiracy theories and Diana: Case Solved is no exception. Scorned women inevitably know too much and, sigh, are deemed loose cannons who must be silenced.
While the motives are dubious, the modus operandi is beyond the pale. How to murder the most recognisable woman in the world? If vehicular homicide is the objective, why take a chance on an intoxicated speeding alternate driver rather than the more reliable method of orchestrating mechanical failure? Further, how to ensure Diana is not wearing a seatbelt because even the authors concede she may have survived if she had been. The ineptitude of the MO eclipses the ineptitude of the subsequent investigation.
The title of the book Diana: Case Solved is a misnomer because nothing is “solved”. There is no compelling evidence of a crime or illuminating revelations about the accident, victims or Monarchy. Events are viewed through the prism of a preconceived lens. For example, the paparazzi at the crash site on the night claim police assaulted them and confiscated film and cameras. The authors interpret it as proof of the conspiracy / cover-up hypothesis. They seemingly never consider the possibility the police were disgusted by greedy insatiable vultures photographing a dying woman and the devastating effects of publishing the photographs.
The book suffers from being the product of two disparate authors. The detective may be a credible source but the book bears the grubby hallmarks of tabloid “journalism”. Its sensationalism, innuendo, implausible evidence and reliance on anonymous sources are consistent with the ethos of The National Enquirer.
Unfortunately, the Royal family are easy targets for the gutter press. Even in litigious times, the Monarchy is notoriously reluctant to challenge spurious baseless allegations in courts of law. Harry and Meghan prove anyone can publish defamatory comments with complete impunity. Therefore, we should read nothing into Charles’ or the Monarchy’s refusal to respond to rumours and accusations like those in Diana: Case Solved.
Sadly, the book was never going to end “they lived happily ever after”. My critique is not merely the book lacks merit. The book lacks empathy and compassion too. Diana’s sons must contend with another trashy account of their mother’s death which not only demonises their father but, perversely, defends the paparazzi. Honte á vous, McLaren and Howard, or in English “shame on you”.
November 15, 2019
This book covers a two 0-year investigation of Princess Diana’s death. From the moments before her death until the present, the authors give details of her fears and worries. She said she knew some people wanted her dead.
It also gives some insight into her relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed and the consequences of their marriage, if it were to occur.
A list of friends, acquaintances, royal family staff, police, former investigators, and the driver of the white Fiat Uno were interviewed for this book.
It is a compelling, detailed series of clues, evidence, and coincidences that make us the mystery of Princess Diana’s death.
A must-read for readers, who enjoy a mystery and fans of Princess Diana.
It also gives some insight into her relationship with Dodi Al-Fayed and the consequences of their marriage, if it were to occur.
A list of friends, acquaintances, royal family staff, police, former investigators, and the driver of the white Fiat Uno were interviewed for this book.
It is a compelling, detailed series of clues, evidence, and coincidences that make us the mystery of Princess Diana’s death.
A must-read for readers, who enjoy a mystery and fans of Princess Diana.
September 22, 2019
Excellent book for Diana lovers
This book puts to rest all of the crazy conspiracies that have plagued this tragic accident. I learned more about the real Diana than any of the numerous biographies I have read through the years. Fantastic book!
This book puts to rest all of the crazy conspiracies that have plagued this tragic accident. I learned more about the real Diana than any of the numerous biographies I have read through the years. Fantastic book!
November 28, 2020
DYLAN HOWARD DIANA: CASE SOLVED
I have long been an admirer of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and so was intrigued by this book, wondering what new evidence had been found. In a nutshell, none!
It is written in a very personal almost gushing style, certainly not in a professional investigative manner. The co-author is a former police officer with the state of Victoria Police Force and it is his own personal investigation motes that are the core of this book.
There are a number of inaccuracies in the book.
Firstly, the authors repeat the claim that Diana was pregnant when she was killed and that French authorities covered this up. However close friends of Diana’s including Rosa Monkton have spoken about how Diana mentioned that she had her period just before going away with Dodi. In addition, Diana would not have embarrassed her sons William and Harry by becoming pregnant and not be married. Diana held the Queen and the Monarchy in high regard, despite their own personal differences and so again it is very unlike ly that she would embarrass the Queen and the Monarchy in this fashion. Don’t forget that Diana’s family the Spencers have had a long connection with the Monarchy and are a very old family.
Secondly, Trevor Rees-Jones was not Diana’s bodyguard, he as well as the driver Henri Paul were employees of the Fayeds (most specifically Mohamed Al-Fayed). When Diana lost her HRH title, she lost the right to Royal protection and so was in the hands of other people’s security.
Thirdly, the authors also claim that Henri Paul was heavily intoxicated, however Trevor Rees-Johns has stated in his own book “The Bodyguards Story”, that in fact Henri Paul showed no signs of intoxication, because he (Rees-Johns) would never have let him drive if he was. In addition, Rees-Johns states that just before leaving the Ritz-Carlton, Henri Paul bent down and tied up his shoe laces with no evident balance issues.
The authors have relied on sources that wish to remain anonymous (don’t they always!!) as they still fear for their lives. However, they do use the recollections of Paul Burrell, (who was Diana’s butler and close confident) as well as her head of security Ken Warfe. Both of these men did work closely with Diana, but with the passage of time and perhaps in a bid to regain some glory some of their evidence must be called into question. Paul Burrell in his book “A Royal Duty” discusses his interview with the Queen in the days after Diana’s death. He states that the Queen was sitting at her desk and as she did not invite him to sit, he stood for the 3 hours of the interview. He mentions how at the end of the interview his calf muscles and legs were aching. Compare this to the description in this book, where he and the Queen are sitting side by side on a sofa!! Ken Warfe describes situations where Diana’s romantic interests would be smuggled into Kensington Palace. He goes into detail about how the art dealer Oliver Hoare triggered a smoke alarm to off. Apparently, he was in the corridor outside Diana’s room smoking a Havana cigar, in the nude, hiding behind a pot plant. Can anyone really believe this would happen? Even if Diana did not like the smell of cigar/cigarette smoke (and who wouldn’t in your bedroom) surely, he would have pulled on at least his underpants and found somewhere a little more private to smoke.
I could go on with more examples of things not just sitting right but I hope you get the general idea.
Much of the book is based on evidence given by people who wish to remain anonymous, citing they afear for their lives if they speak publicly about what they know. There is idle gossip (Diana’s alleged cocaine use, her many lovers, the secrets that she knew about the Royal Family etc.) which are either just put in as a one line comment or included for the “Oh My God” reaction. There is certainly little real evidence to support many of their claims.
What is their final conclusion; well apparently Diana upset unknown influences (either governments or big businesses) with her campaigns and so she was killed. The Queen knows who was perhaps most likely responsible, but will do nothing, because “The Firm” comes first. Can we really believe that this is the most likely scenario, or can we believe that it was truly a very sad accident with a number of causes. While there are still a number of questions around the death of Diana, this book does nothing to answer them. Don't waste your time.
I have long been an admirer of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and so was intrigued by this book, wondering what new evidence had been found. In a nutshell, none!
It is written in a very personal almost gushing style, certainly not in a professional investigative manner. The co-author is a former police officer with the state of Victoria Police Force and it is his own personal investigation motes that are the core of this book.
There are a number of inaccuracies in the book.
Firstly, the authors repeat the claim that Diana was pregnant when she was killed and that French authorities covered this up. However close friends of Diana’s including Rosa Monkton have spoken about how Diana mentioned that she had her period just before going away with Dodi. In addition, Diana would not have embarrassed her sons William and Harry by becoming pregnant and not be married. Diana held the Queen and the Monarchy in high regard, despite their own personal differences and so again it is very unlike ly that she would embarrass the Queen and the Monarchy in this fashion. Don’t forget that Diana’s family the Spencers have had a long connection with the Monarchy and are a very old family.
Secondly, Trevor Rees-Jones was not Diana’s bodyguard, he as well as the driver Henri Paul were employees of the Fayeds (most specifically Mohamed Al-Fayed). When Diana lost her HRH title, she lost the right to Royal protection and so was in the hands of other people’s security.
Thirdly, the authors also claim that Henri Paul was heavily intoxicated, however Trevor Rees-Johns has stated in his own book “The Bodyguards Story”, that in fact Henri Paul showed no signs of intoxication, because he (Rees-Johns) would never have let him drive if he was. In addition, Rees-Johns states that just before leaving the Ritz-Carlton, Henri Paul bent down and tied up his shoe laces with no evident balance issues.
The authors have relied on sources that wish to remain anonymous (don’t they always!!) as they still fear for their lives. However, they do use the recollections of Paul Burrell, (who was Diana’s butler and close confident) as well as her head of security Ken Warfe. Both of these men did work closely with Diana, but with the passage of time and perhaps in a bid to regain some glory some of their evidence must be called into question. Paul Burrell in his book “A Royal Duty” discusses his interview with the Queen in the days after Diana’s death. He states that the Queen was sitting at her desk and as she did not invite him to sit, he stood for the 3 hours of the interview. He mentions how at the end of the interview his calf muscles and legs were aching. Compare this to the description in this book, where he and the Queen are sitting side by side on a sofa!! Ken Warfe describes situations where Diana’s romantic interests would be smuggled into Kensington Palace. He goes into detail about how the art dealer Oliver Hoare triggered a smoke alarm to off. Apparently, he was in the corridor outside Diana’s room smoking a Havana cigar, in the nude, hiding behind a pot plant. Can anyone really believe this would happen? Even if Diana did not like the smell of cigar/cigarette smoke (and who wouldn’t in your bedroom) surely, he would have pulled on at least his underpants and found somewhere a little more private to smoke.
I could go on with more examples of things not just sitting right but I hope you get the general idea.
Much of the book is based on evidence given by people who wish to remain anonymous, citing they afear for their lives if they speak publicly about what they know. There is idle gossip (Diana’s alleged cocaine use, her many lovers, the secrets that she knew about the Royal Family etc.) which are either just put in as a one line comment or included for the “Oh My God” reaction. There is certainly little real evidence to support many of their claims.
What is their final conclusion; well apparently Diana upset unknown influences (either governments or big businesses) with her campaigns and so she was killed. The Queen knows who was perhaps most likely responsible, but will do nothing, because “The Firm” comes first. Can we really believe that this is the most likely scenario, or can we believe that it was truly a very sad accident with a number of causes. While there are still a number of questions around the death of Diana, this book does nothing to answer them. Don't waste your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2024
Over the holiday season I began reading Tina Brown’s biography of Diana, Princess of Wales The Diana Chronicles. As I read, I became intrigued with the closing chapter of Diana’s life: The car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris which claimed her life, those of Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul while leaving bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones seriously injured.
Diana herself predicted her own death in a letter which was penned by her in late 1996: This particular phase in my life is the most dangerous. My husband is planning ‘an accident’ in my car, brake failure and serious head injury in order to make the path clear for him to marry.
What events led to the fatal voyage? A woman seeking to make an ex-husband and former lover jealous. A wealthy playboy who gives orders and demands they be obeyed without question. A driver who is a functioning alcoholic. A spineless bodyguard who is afraid to stand up to his wealthy employer. A mysterious white Fiat Uno who was there one moment and gone the next. In Diana: Case Solved The Definitive Account That Proves What Really Happened authors Colin McLaren and Dylan Howard take you through the people and events which end with the fatal car crash and death of Diana, Princess of Wales in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on the fateful evening of August 31, 1997.
Colin McLaren, an Australian detective and Dylan Howard, an investigative reporter take you on step-by- step exploration into this mystery which has left experts and authorities baffled for decades. Through the fields of expertise, the team build a case which presents the evidence into the who, what, where, when, how and why of the late princess’s death. In addition, the authors have created a podcast titled Fatal Voyage: Princess Diana which is an excellent follow up to their book.
Diana herself predicted her own death in a letter which was penned by her in late 1996: This particular phase in my life is the most dangerous. My husband is planning ‘an accident’ in my car, brake failure and serious head injury in order to make the path clear for him to marry.
What events led to the fatal voyage? A woman seeking to make an ex-husband and former lover jealous. A wealthy playboy who gives orders and demands they be obeyed without question. A driver who is a functioning alcoholic. A spineless bodyguard who is afraid to stand up to his wealthy employer. A mysterious white Fiat Uno who was there one moment and gone the next. In Diana: Case Solved The Definitive Account That Proves What Really Happened authors Colin McLaren and Dylan Howard take you through the people and events which end with the fatal car crash and death of Diana, Princess of Wales in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel on the fateful evening of August 31, 1997.
Colin McLaren, an Australian detective and Dylan Howard, an investigative reporter take you on step-by- step exploration into this mystery which has left experts and authorities baffled for decades. Through the fields of expertise, the team build a case which presents the evidence into the who, what, where, when, how and why of the late princess’s death. In addition, the authors have created a podcast titled Fatal Voyage: Princess Diana which is an excellent follow up to their book.
May 21, 2024
I think it’s a good starting point if you’re curious about the death of Princess Diana and have only gotten fragmented tidbits of info from your social media feed.
That’s where I was when I began reading this book. I knew who she was, that she was cheated on by Charles with Camilla, that she wore the revenge dress when Charles made Camilla public, she was well loved, and that her car accident death was full of conspiracies. That was it.
Some parts were a bit hard to follow but it does give you a good picture of Diana and her accident.
What brought it down from a four to a three star though, was the other reviews calling it out for inaccuracies such as whether the butler was sitting or standing while talking with the Queen or whether or not Diana had been pregnant.
For a book boasting the credibility of its authors and titled Diana: Case Solved, I would have thought it must have been throughly fact checked for inaccuracies and actually concludes the case. It seems that neither is achieved. At the end of reading, it points to the strange behaviour of the French police from the violence towards the pap who took a picture of them dismantling a flashing speed detector, their speedy cleanup/destruction of the scene, to them telling the Fiat driver not to speak to British police, but never explains or theorizes why the French police may have acted that way.
Overall, a good read to get a more solid general grasp on everything but it’s nothing spectacular.
That’s where I was when I began reading this book. I knew who she was, that she was cheated on by Charles with Camilla, that she wore the revenge dress when Charles made Camilla public, she was well loved, and that her car accident death was full of conspiracies. That was it.
Some parts were a bit hard to follow but it does give you a good picture of Diana and her accident.
What brought it down from a four to a three star though, was the other reviews calling it out for inaccuracies such as whether the butler was sitting or standing while talking with the Queen or whether or not Diana had been pregnant.
For a book boasting the credibility of its authors and titled Diana: Case Solved, I would have thought it must have been throughly fact checked for inaccuracies and actually concludes the case. It seems that neither is achieved. At the end of reading, it points to the strange behaviour of the French police from the violence towards the pap who took a picture of them dismantling a flashing speed detector, their speedy cleanup/destruction of the scene, to them telling the Fiat driver not to speak to British police, but never explains or theorizes why the French police may have acted that way.
Overall, a good read to get a more solid general grasp on everything but it’s nothing spectacular.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2025
Although this account of the fatal crash that resulted in Diana and Dodie's deaths does not really include any new information, It does highlight the disputes between the French and British investigations and their different ways to review the crash. It also discusses the many of conspiracy theories that around from the time of the crash and up to current views. Interesting, but no new conclusions reached. Also, the audio version irritated me as the Australian narrator did not pronounce Seine or many other French words correctly...
April 30, 2020
Conspiracy theory or not??
Very good investigation work done! Due to unanswered questions I can see where it falls into controversy about the various leads followed up on and those not by the original version of what happened that terrible night. I know what I believe happened that night and as time goes on the public will eventually "put it to sleep"! Enough said!!
Very good investigation work done! Due to unanswered questions I can see where it falls into controversy about the various leads followed up on and those not by the original version of what happened that terrible night. I know what I believe happened that night and as time goes on the public will eventually "put it to sleep"! Enough said!!
January 10, 2021
Unfinished.
Good research at first, but there were many more questions I would have asked. There were over 30 witnesses in the tunnel, most not asked to give evidence at the inquest and many more questions that should have been asked at the inquest. Some points were dismissed without any research at all. This book certainly does not, 'solve the case'.
Good research at first, but there were many more questions I would have asked. There were over 30 witnesses in the tunnel, most not asked to give evidence at the inquest and many more questions that should have been asked at the inquest. Some points were dismissed without any research at all. This book certainly does not, 'solve the case'.
January 22, 2021
It is a very poorly edited rehash of what is already "known" - including falsehoods, the truth, and what some want the truth to be. The only interesting part was the detective's study of the skid marks and plotting of the actual path of the vehicle; the importance of all car occupants to wear seat belts was made!
May 13, 2023
I received this book as part of a review; however, all thoughts are 100% my own.
This book was interesting. Don't let the title fool you, though. It tells the back story of Diana, details I didn't know at all. Full of details I did know and them trying to construct the scene again. I won't say how it ended but it was enjoyable enough.
This book was interesting. Don't let the title fool you, though. It tells the back story of Diana, details I didn't know at all. Full of details I did know and them trying to construct the scene again. I won't say how it ended but it was enjoyable enough.
November 20, 2023
The book is much better that others I read about the death of Diana. It revealed few unknown facts about the accident and involved persons, but failed to find the last big and crucial piece of the puzzle.
May 23, 2020
Very interesting take but also raises a lot of questions. Brilliantly researched and conveyed.
October 28, 2020
Review is on my webpage. Link in bio
January 3, 2021
Very little new information, and contained a lot of unnecessary salacious material. This book could have been quite a bit shorter.
May 28, 2021
Interesting read. Still lots of questions.
October 18, 2021
Lots of good points addressed in this book, like many of the others. Left me with more questions, which is always a plus to keep reading & discover other points of view.
April 6, 2022
Like JFK - the conspiracy theories can’t be put to rest.
August 22, 2022
Very interesting. Learned a bit more info than I had heard on social media. Sounds like we may never know for certain though, what truly did happen and more importantly who was behind her death?
November 6, 2022
I would have given it five stars had the author not insisted on putting his own political opinion in it. Nobody cares, Bucko.
January 2, 2025
Like JFK, the conspiracy theories can’t be put to rest.
March 23, 2025
I like this book a lot but there are a decent amount of editing errors
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