No, Princess Diana was not intoxicated; the investigations concluded her driver, Henri Paul, was drunk and speeding, causing the fatal 1997 Paris crash, though there were some later challenges to the blood test reliability, these were largely dismissed by official inquiries finding Paul to be significantly over the legal alcohol limit.
ON THIS DAY: In 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed after the car she was riding in crashed in Paris; her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul (who was found to have been intoxicated at the time of the crash) also died.
In these moments, Diana would often keep her chin tucked and her head slightly down, making it harder for the photographers to get a clear shot. This subtle act helped her regain some control over her public image and shielded her from the overwhelming exposure that came with being part of the royal family.
For the most part, Diana avoided alcohol. On the occasions when she did drink, she preferred white wine. She once told one of the palace chefs 'I can't take champagne, it just gives me the giggles so I have to stay away from it!'
DIANA MIGHT HAVE SURVIVED IF SHE HAD USED HER SEAT BELT, EXPERTS SAY | Journal of Commerce.
First medical reports indicated that she was suffering from concussion, a broken arm and cuts to her thighs. It later emerged that the Princess had suffered massive chest injuries. At 4.53am it was announced that the Princess had died.
“It's all about assessing the location, the journey and the risk factors,” says Davies, who was in charge of keeping the British royal family safe in the 1990s. “For ceremonial duties, when they go short distances at a slow pace and the roads are blocked off, you'll often see them not wearing seat belts.
She loved wearing brands, which included Chanel. However, the then Princess of Wales stopped wearing Chanel following her divorce. Apparently, the label's logo, the double interlocking C's, reminded her of the betrayal she had by Prince Charles because of his then-affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
Princess Diana, who was a non-smoker, voluntarily took part in a test designed for smokers.
Princess Margaret didn't bow to Princess Diana's coffin at her funeral primarily due to a deep-seated resentment stemming from Diana's 1995 tell-all Panorama interview, which Margaret saw as a severe betrayal of the Royal Family and the Queen; Margaret never forgave Diana for publicly airing grievances and challenging royal decorum, viewing her as a disloyal figure, leading to her snub during the funeral procession despite their initially warm relationship.
Princess Diana did not have an open-casket funeral. Since she died in a car accident and was subject to an autopsy, the chances are that nobody would have wanted the princess to have been remembered in such a way, thus keeping the casket closed.
The Prince of Wales is the most popular with a 75% approval rating and is closely followed by The Princess of Wales with a 72% 👑🇬🇧 . The latest poll was published on May 14th 2025.
I omitted obey from my vows.
She was killed by a drunken driver, but an emergency medical system that was too slow did not save her. Her chances of survival were diminished by a system that took 101 minutes to get her to a hospital that was 6 kilometers away.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then Sophie Rhys-Jones) did not attend Princess Diana's funeral in 1997, reportedly because her strong resemblance to Diana would have been too upsetting for the grieving crowds, a decision made thoughtfully by Sophie herself. At the time, she was dating Prince Edward, but they were not yet engaged or married.
Princess Diana's "dark side" involved significant mental health struggles, including depression, bulimia, self-harm, and mood swings, alongside perceived manipulative, attention-seeking, and vindictive behaviors, often stemming from insecurity and an unstable upbringing, creating deep conflict within her marriage and with royal staff, despite her public image as a compassionate figure. She confessed to these struggles, including affairs and self-harm, in her famous interview, revealing a complex, wounded individual overwhelmed by pressure and emptiness.
Queen Camilla was once a heavy smoker - but stopped the habit years ago.
Diana's coffin was carried from the palace on a gun carriage by ridges of the King's Troop, and was escorted by mounted police. 🌹 Diana's was wearing a black long-sleeved, three- quarter length woollen wrap around cocktail dress, designed by Catherine Walker.
She couldn't believe that Diana would speak out so publicly and disgrace the family in such a bold way. Margaret was deeply loyal to the monarchy and saw Diana's actions as unforgivable. In fact, according to biographers, Margaret became one of Diana's harshest critics in the royal family after that interview.
Although the family was aware of Diana's bulimia, she struggled with the illness for many years, not seeking treatment until the late 1980s. However, this fact was not revealed to the public until 1992, when Andrew Morton published a book about the Princess of Wales.
Queen Camilla transformed a necklace gifted to Princess Diana into a stunning $134,000 brooch with royal significance. Originally part of Queen Alexandra's 1863 collection, the necklace was a wedding gift from the Queen Mother to Diana.
Princess Diana had several favorite perfumes, but Van Cleef & Arpels First (a floral aldehyde) and Penhaligon's Bluebell (a fresh floral) were among her most beloved daily scents, while Hermès 24 Faubourg (jasmine, orange blossom, vanilla) was a favorite for evenings, and she famously wore Houbigant Quelques Fleurs (a rich floral) on her wedding day. Prince Harry noted First as a significant scent for him, while her butler mentioned 24 Faubourg as an everyday choice.
This one is slightly more obvious. Instead of using “toilet,” royals use the word “loo” when they need to use the facilities. “'Toilet' is French by origin, so it is apparently avoided,” The Mirror writes.
As it turns out, it's because he simply has chosen not to wear one. But it's not just the spouses of minor royals (Princess Eugenie is ninth in line to the throne) that don't have to: Apparently all royal men get to choose whether they wear one or not.
No cleavage or cold shoulders for the royals
Few royals have brought more attention to the royal dress code than Meghan Markle. From her frequent shunning of stockings, to her signature messy bun, the Duchess of Sussex has frequently drawn fire for all the ways she is breaking the royal rules.