Anna Tomforde
Monsters and Critics
Thursday, December 14, 2006

London - The official rejection of conspiracy and murder allegations in connection with the death of Princess Diana almost 10 years ago is unlikely to silence speculation about her tragic death, British analysts said Thursday.

Lord Stevens, the former head of Scotland Yard who led the three- year inquiry, Allegations of Conspiracy to murder Lady Diana, said his team had found that there was 'no conspiracy and no cover-up' in the death of Diana and her lover, Dodi al-Fayed.

His painstaking work concluded that the couple, along with French chauffeur Henri Paul, died in a 'tragic accident' when their black Mercedes car crashed in a Paris underpass just after midnight of August 31, 1997.

'We have left no stone unturned,' said Stevens about his 900-page report.

But he also admitted, 'I have no doubt that speculation as to what happened that night will continue and that there are some matters, as in many other investigations, about which we may never find a definitive answer.'

While there can be little doubt in the professional integrity of Stevens, and the thoroughness of the investigations he led, it is also a fact that the 65-year-old retired police chief is himself part of the 'establishment' at whom the allegations have been levelled, analysts pointed out.

The accusations, made in the main by Dodi's father, owner of London's luxurious Harrods department store Mohamed al-Fayed, centre on an alleged conspiracy to murder Diana because she was allegedly planning to get married to 'a Muslim.'

According to al-Fayed the plan, spearheaded by Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and Diana's ex-father-in-law, was to kill both with the help of the intelligence services.

'These are extremely serious allegations,' said Stevens, adding that he understood al-Fayed's position as a 'genuinely grieving parent.'

But his inquiry had found no evidence that Diana was planning to get engaged, or even married, to Dodi, or that she was pregnant.

Prince William, Diana's oldest son, had confirmed to him that his mother had 'no plans to get engaged,' Stevens said.

Asked directly by journalists whether Diana's relationship with 'a Muslim' could be linked to her death, Stevens said, 'That is speculation.'

Royal biographer Sarah Bradford said Thursday that while she did not believe in a conspiracy surrounding Diana's death, she was certain that the speculation would continue.

'Diana was too much of a celebrity for it to go away,' Bradford said. 'Nowadays the Muslim element is so important that it has become a factor.'

There were many other questions Stevens left unanswered. 'There are even friends of mine who question my findings,' he said.

Stevens conceded that a white Fiat Uno car, believed to have been involved in a 'glancing blow' with the Mercedes instants before the crash would never be found and the driver 'never be traced.'

He was lost for an answer as to why Diana and Dodi were not wearing seat belts.

'I don't know what went on inside the car,' Stevens said. 'Had Diana, Dodi and Henri Paul been wearing seat belts, it may well be that they would not have died.'