The end of summer is approaching, this August 30, 1997 when Lady Diana lands at 3:20 p.m. at Le Bourget airport, located 13 kilometers northeast of Paris, on the arm of her companion, the billionaire Dodi al-Fayed. Officially divorced from Prince Charles for a year, Diana Spencer spent the summer alongside the film producer to discover Europe. Bosnia, Monaco, the Côte d'Azur, Sardinia, at each stage of their trip, the couple is tracked and photographed by a horde of paparazzi. Paris is no exception, as soon as they land, several photographers on motorbikes are waiting for them. 4:30 p.m., arrival at the Ritz Lady Diana and Dodi al-Fayed must spend a few days in Paris before returning to London and decide to go to the Ritz. The owner of the Parisian palace, located Place Vendôme in the 1st arrondissement, is none other than Dodi al-Fayed's father, the rich and powerful Egyptian businessman, Mohammed al-Fayed. The paparazzi are still there and are shooting the entrance to the hotel, hoping to capture a picture of the couple. 5:40 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., the Princess of Wales stalked in Paris The couple visit apartments together in the capital. Then the princess tries to go shopping on the Champs-Élysées, the Egyptian goes to a jewelry store to spot an engagement ring, according to Vanity Fair, a jewel with a diamond star named "Tell me yes". They had planned to dine in a posh restaurant in the Marais but cancel at the last minute because, once again, the flashes crackle every time they go there. 9:50 p.m., last meal at the Ritz They decide to return to the Parisian palace for dinner. Observed by all the guests, Lady Di and her companion are placed in an isolated room and will taste a meal prepared by chef Girardin. The couple then decide to go to Dodi al-Fayed's mansion in search of calm and privacy. August 31, 1997, 00:10, the car stratagem To trap the photographers gathered at the entrance to the hotel, the Egyptian and his security team come up with a stratagem. Dodi al-Fayed's Mercedes 600, parked in front of the hotel, will leave first while he and Lady Di will leave the hotel from the back and aboard another Mercedes. They are still spotted, a dozen motorcycles are chasing them. 00:30, the fatal accident The accident will take place less than five minutes after their departure. The Mercedes was traveling at 150 km/h to escape the photographers, but the driver Henri Paul loses control of the vehicle. He hits the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel under the Pont de l'Alma. The man dies instantly as well as Dodi al-Fayed. Lady Di and her bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, are alive. When the police and emergency services arrive on the scene, the Princess of Wales has to be freed. Her right foot is stuck under a seat, the operation takes more than an hour. 2:00 a.m., Diana Spencer arrives at the hospital While the Princess is transferred to the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, the investigation begins at the scene of the accident and seven photographers are taken to the premises of the criminal brigade. The motorcycles are seized as evidence. 4:25 a.m., death of Princess Diana Victim of hemorrhagic shock once on site then of cardiac arrest, the condition of the princess is serious. The doctors discover an internal hemorrhage caused by the rupture of a pulmonary vein which will be fatal to her. Her death was declared at 4:25 am on August 31, 1997, Lady Di was 36 years old. #DianiaSpencer #LadyDi #PrincessDiana #Royals #PrincessofWales #AlmaPont #unitedkingdom #paris #1997 #31august1997 Find the article on our website: 20 Minutes, with you https://www.20minutes.fr Find us on: Snapchat: / 0667753253 Facebook: / 20minutes Our Chatbot: https://www.messenger.com/t/20minutes Twitter: / 20minutes Instagram: / 20minutesfrance Linkedin: / 20-minutes Podcast: https://podcasts.20minutes.fr/