Princess Diana investigator breaks silence on her death Time for the story to be told

Lord Stevens breaks his silence on Princess Diana's death

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The end of this month marks a quarter of a century since Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris when she was just 36 years old. Her untimely death was the subject of conspiracy theories which would be shared for years to come. Ahead of a four-part series about her death airing on Channel 4, Lord John Stevens opened up on This Morning about his findings. 

Lord Stevens, 79, appeared on Thursday’s instalment of This Morning to speak with hosts Rochelle Humes and Andi Peters about the upcoming Channel 4 documentary series, Investigating Diana: Death in Paris.

When asked what he hopes the outcome of the documentary will be after it airs on Sunday night, he revealed: “Well it’s transparency, [we want] people to understand what we did and why we did it and what the conclusions were. 

“Maybe they will come to the same conclusions the jury did at the coroner’s court.”

The former Metropolitan Police Commissioner continued: “For the first time ever we have got officers who were involved in the inquiry giving input into this particular series of programmes. 

“I just hope, at the end of the day, people understand we did a really good job and worked very hard under immense pressures. 

“I think it is time for the story to be told,” Lord Stevens added. 

The investigation into Diana’s death was named Operation Paget and the inquiry lasted for three years – it involved more than 100 witnesses. 

Diana’s fatal car crash, in 1997, also killed her companion, Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul.

Lord Stevens, who retired from Scotland Yard in 2005, told This Morning viewers why he thought Channel 4 was the best broadcaster to air the upcoming documentary on the beloved royal’s death. 

He said: “The other thing is, we used a production company that we trust.” 

Lord Stevens has never spoken publicly about Diana’s tragic death before. 

Reflecting on the investigation, the former police boss said he has always been told to follow where the evidence takes him. 


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“Do not get involved in the speculation and don’t make any conclusions whatsoever unless you have the evidence to deal with that,” he explained. 

“That is the only way you can proceed. And don’t get pulled one way or the other. 

“With an inquiry like that some people are going to be glad you are doing what you are doing, but when the outcome is out you, know you are not going to be able to please everybody.” 

In 2008, the jury decided Diana had been unlawfully killed by the “grossly negligent driving of the following vehicles [the paparazzi] and of the Mercedes driver Henri Paul”.

The jury of six women and five men produced a nine to two majority verdict after 22 hours of deliberation.

When Rochelle said 85 percent of the public did not believe the royal’s death was an accident, Lord Stevens said that statistic added pressure to the investigation. 

“You have to keep in the middle of it and not go one way or the other, and as I said, go where the evidence takes you,” he added. 

His interview comes ahead of Diana’s youngest son Prince Harry releasing a tell-all memoir about his life in the public eye.

The Duke of Sussex was just 12 years old when his mother died while his brother Prince William was 15. 

Diana’s final hours are believed to feature heavily in Harry’s book which is due to be released at the end of this year. 

The Prince, who resides in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, has reportedly been writing the book since 2020. 

This Morning airs on weekdays at 10am on ITV. 

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