Princess Diana: Death, Loves, and Unanswered Questions

Twenty-seven years after a car crash in Paris ended her life, Princess Diana still holds a powerful grip on the public imagination. The questions — about her marriage, her loves, and the final moments of her life — keep coming from a new generation of readers. Here’s what the official record actually shows, and where the stories remain fuzzy.

Full name: Diana Frances Spencer · Born: 1 July 1961 · Died: 31 August 1997 · Spouse: Charles, Prince of Wales (1981–1996) · Children: Prince William, Prince Harry · Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)

The table below summarises the key biographical details of Diana, Princess of Wales.

What was Diana’s condition when she died?

Diana, Princess of Wales, died from injuries sustained in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris in the early hours of 31 August 1997. The crash also killed Dodi Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul. Trevor Rees-Jones, a bodyguard, was the sole survivor (CBS News).

British and French police investigations concluded that Henri Paul was drunk and lost control of the Mercedes (CBS News). A 2006 British police investigation found no evidence of a conspiracy and described the incident as a tragic accident (Reuters).

What were Diana’s last words before she died?

Diana’s last words have been widely reported but remain unconfirmed. According to several accounts, she reportedly said, “My God, what happened?” shortly after the crash. No official inquest record or medical report has verified the exact phrasing.

Did Charles cry when Diana died?

Prince Charles did not cry publicly upon learning of Diana’s death, but those close to him have described him as visibly distressed. The official inquest heard that Charles was deeply affected, though the question of whether he wept remains a private matter not settled by any public record.

What were Dodi Fayed’s fatal injuries?

Dodi Fayed died instantly from multiple severe injuries caused by the impact of the crash. The inquest heard that the force of the collision at the entrance to the Alma Tunnel was catastrophic, leaving no chance of survival for the rear-seat passenger (The Guardian).

The implication: what we know about the crash is the product of multiple investigations, yet the most intimate details of that night remain locked away from public record.

Who was unfaithful first, Charles or Diana?

The question of infidelity in the marriage of Charles and Diana has been a source of public debate for decades. The timeline of when each relationship began matters because it shapes the narrative of who broke the vows first.

Charles resumed his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles during the marriage, a fact Diana herself referenced in her 1995 BBC interview. Diana admitted to an affair with James Hewitt, a cavalry officer, which began later in the marriage. The implication from the evidence is that Charles’s emotional — and likely physical — involvement with Camilla predated Diana’s affair with Hewitt.

Why did Charles marry Diana if he didn’t like her?

Charles felt pressured to marry due to royal expectations and the need to produce an heir, according to multiple biographies. Diana was young, from a suitable aristocratic family, and appeared to be a perfect match on paper. The engagement was announced in February 1981 after a short courtship, and the couple married on 29 July 1981 at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Did Camilla ever apologize to Diana?

There is no public record or credible report that Camilla Parker Bowles ever apologized to Diana for the affair with Charles. The question has been raised repeatedly in biographies and interviews, but no apology has been confirmed. The absence of such a gesture remains a point of tension in the narrative of the marriage breakdown.

Who was Diana’s true love?

This question has sparked endless speculation, but a few key relationships stand out. Diana had a serious, private relationship with Hasnat Khan, a Pakistani heart surgeon, after her divorce. Her former butler, Paul Burrell, testified in the 2008 inquest that Diana was truly in love with Khan when she died (ABC News).

Burrell also stated that Dodi Fayed was a rebound relationship — someone Diana used to make Khan jealous (ABC News). The relationship with Dodi was widely portrayed in the press as her final romance, but those close to her say Khan was the one she truly wanted (The Guardian).

Did Trump want to date Diana?

Donald Trump reportedly expressed interest in dating Diana after her divorce, but the two never met romantically. The claim has been repeated in biographies and interviews, but no confirmed relationship or even a meeting ever took place. It remains a footnote in the broader story of the public fascination with Diana’s love life.

The pattern: each of Diana’s relationships struggled under the weight of her global fame.

Did Diana miscarry a baby?

Diana reportedly suffered a miscarriage during her marriage to Charles, according to accounts in her interviews and later biographies. The claim has never been officially confirmed by the royal family or by Diana’s medical records. It remains in the realm of reported but unverified personal history.

The miscarriage story first emerged in Andrew Morton’s 1992 book Diana: Her True Story, which was based on tapes Diana herself recorded. The book described the emotional toll the loss took on her, but no independent medical confirmation has ever been made public.

Why did Hasnat Khan leave Diana?

Hasnat Khan, a Pakistani heart surgeon, ended his relationship with Diana primarily due to cultural differences and the intense media pressure that came with being linked to the world’s most famous woman. The relationship was serious — Diana reportedly visited him in Pakistan and considered converting to Islam — but the gap between their worlds proved too wide.

Did Dr. Hasnat Khan ever marry?

Yes, Dr. Hasnat Khan later married a Pakistani woman. He has maintained a private life away from the media spotlight, rarely speaking about his relationship with Diana. The marriage confirms that he moved on from the brief but intense chapter with the Princess of Wales.

Three relationships, three very different outcomes. One pattern: each man struggled with the weight of her fame.

The table below compares the key relationships in Diana’s adult life.

The catch: only one of these relationships ended with both parties still alive.

Timeline of key events

• 1 July 1961 — Diana Frances Spencer born at Sandringham, Norfolk
• 29 July 1981 — Marries Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral
• 21 June 1982 — Prince William born
• 15 September 1984 — Prince Harry born
• 9 December 1992 — Separation from Charles announced
• 28 August 1996 — Divorce finalized
• 31 August 1997 — Diana dies in Paris car crash

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

In their own words

Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.

— Diana, Princess of Wales, in her 1995 BBC Panorama interview

She was the people’s princess.

— Tony Blair, then Prime Minister, in a speech following Diana’s death in 1997

I’d like to be the queen of people’s hearts.

— Diana, Princess of Wales, in an interview about her charity work

What it all means

The fascination with Diana’s life and death shows no sign of fading. For the millions who still follow her story, the questions are not just about a princess — they are about how fame, love, and tragedy can collide in ways that defy easy answers. The record is clear on the crash, the infidelity, and the timeline. But the emotional truths — who she loved most, who hurt her, what she might have become — remain locked in the private realm she never fully got to enjoy.

The consequence: Diana’s legacy forces each generation to confront the cost of living one’s life in the public eye.

Frequently asked questions