It took a long time to get Princess Diana to the hospital because French emergency protocols ("stay and play") involved stabilizing her at the scene and en route, rather than a rapid transport ("scoop and run") common in the U.S.. The ambulance drove slowly (around 25 mph) on the doctor's orders to avoid further destabilizing her severe internal injuries, stopping briefly to manage her blood pressure drops; this approach, while following French best practices for complex trauma, delayed arrival at the specialized Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital compared to a quicker emergency department.
DIANA MIGHT HAVE SURVIVED IF SHE HAD USED HER SEAT BELT, EXPERTS SAY | Journal of Commerce.
Accepted 2017 Apr 28; Issue date 2017 Aug. This summer marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, who died at age 36 years of a ruptured pulmonary vein and a massive intrathoracic hemorrhage from a traffic crash in Paris, France, on August 31, 1997.
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.
Princess Diana's casket was kept closed during her funeral for reasons of dignity, privacy, and public decorum that are common in state and high-profile funerals.
Though heavier than a traditional casket, they're not entirely made of lead. Witnessing the Welsh Guards' struggle with one during a funeral highlights the added weight. This sealing is crucial for possible future exhumations or when embalming isn't possible, as it prevents the odors associated with decomposition.
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 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.
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.
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.
Only Rees-Jones, who survived, was wearing a seatbelt. Diana's eldest sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, speaking in the BBC documentary Diana, 7 Days, said: “She was religious in putting on her seat belt… Why didn't she put it on that night? I'll never know."
Diana had a single-incision hysterectomy—meaning the surgeon made one incision along the line of her belly button. That incision was used to insert surgical instruments and a miniaturized camera into her abdomen. The camera serves as the surgeon's eyes during the procedure.
Bleeding profusely in the chest area, Diana was transported to the La Pitie-Salpetriere in southwestern Paris, where doctors operated and then applied heart massage for two hours. But they failed to get her heart going and Diana died from internal bleeding stemming from major chest and lung injuries, said Dr.
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.
“When there's potential for a perceived threat, they may well not wear seat belts, particularly if they're in their finery,” Davies explains. This is because it's much easier and faster to get them out of the car and to safety when they don't have to fumble with seat belts and bulky apparel.
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.
It is Prince Andrew, however, who remains the least popular royal, with nine in ten Britons (89%) now seeing the Duke of York negatively.
Some say the dueling duchesses disliked one another from day one. Others say the war began when the combatants clashed over preparations for Meghan's wedding. Whatever the case, a new poll indicates that when it comes to popularity in the UK, Meghan is no contest for Kate.
While "nicest" is subjective, polls consistently show Prince William and Princess Catherine (Kate) as the most popular and positively viewed royals, often praised for their warmth, dedication, and resilience, with Princess Anne frequently cited for her down-to-earth, no-nonsense, and hardworking nature, making her a strong contender for "nicest" in terms of perceived authenticity.
I omitted obey from my vows.
Well, here's how “The Crown” diverges from royal reality.
On This Day: Queen Elizabeth II bows her head as the coffin carrying Princess Diana passes by in London, 6 September, 1997.
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.
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.