The Palace withdrew Diana's security by downgrading her title.

[speak easy]

Last edited Tue Mar 9, 2021, 09:48 AM - Edit history (1)

She died.

Then they tried the same trick on her son, Prince Harry?

Unbelieveable

EDIT: In fact Diana refused the Scotland Yard protection that was available, so this OP is wrongheaded. Sorry everyone
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1575792/Police-begged-Diana-to-have-more-protection.html

[Beringia]

1. I would think the Queen has to approve of such measures

Will be hard to wiggle out of this one.

[jimfields33]

15. In divorce, she became a regular British person.

Why would she keep the title? I know many people lose quite a bit in divorce.

[Beringia]

17. I guess I am enjoying the gossip fest

But her response to Diana's death was stone cold. I somehow think she won't be as cold to Harry. Doesn't she have some leeway in decisions. I know they follow protocol, so maybe she is just following protocol and justifying things that way. But she may have grandmother instincts too.

[LovingA2andMI]

33. Actually...

Diana KEPT the Title Diana, Princess of Wales & Mother to Two Heirs to the Throne including future King William. She only lost the HRH and therefore her security should have been KEPT until she remarried.

[Treefrog]

65. She REFUSED her Royal Protection detail. Do you realize that? It was HER decision.

Please feel free to do the research if you don’t believe me.

[LovingA2andMI]

71. Actually, Googling Only Forwarded Half of the Story To You

"2. Her police protection

According to the author of The Diana Chronicles, Tina Brown, Diana was also stripped of the security given to members of the Royal Family.

During her marriage to Prince Charles, Princess Diana's safety was of critical importance to the monarchy.

But after their divorce was finalised, Diana was only given police protection when attending a public event and had to fund private bodyguards herself in her day-to-day life."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/7395903/princess-diana-divorce-prince-charles-lost-budget-protection/

[Treefrog]

72. The Sun? Seriously?

[Coventina]

2. Diana died because of excessive speed by a drunk driver.

Good grief.

Do you think Harry is going to make that same choice?

If he does, that's on him.

[speak easy]

4. If she had security, the Paparazzi would have been kept at a distance.

EOM.

[JI7]

6. She died because of the car driving her

[speak easy]

11. And IF she had UK secret service protection,

that car chase would never have happened.

[Coventina]

7. Um, no. The paps follow EVERY royal, regardless of their status. n/t

[speak easy]

12. But the UK secret service keeps them ar a distance.

[Coventina]

13. The distance wasn't the issue. It was the speed and drunk driver

and not wearing a seatbelt.

[speak easy]

14. Speeding away from the Paparazzi,

who would not been able to get anything like close with secret service protection.

[Coventina]

16. And, she would have been just as dead from speed and drunk driving. n/t

[speak easy]

18. In your 'dead certain' alternative history

Of course! How could it be otherwise?

[Coventina]

20. I don't understand why the British public have to pay for ANY security

for any of the royal family.

They are rich enough to pay for their own damn security.

For that matter, so is the al-Fayed family.

I'm anti-monarchy and think they are all a drain on society.

I think Diana was treated shabbily, but the lack of security was the least of it.

[speak easy]

22. Bacause Prince Harry

did not choose to be a trophy target?

But after the Daily Mail revealed his location, and lack of protection, it was open seaon?

[Coventina]

23. He can afford his own security. n/t

[speak easy]

24. Withdrawn with next to no notice,

during the lockdown?

They found security, at an undisclosed location at CA. What else is new?

[Coventina]

25. What, am I supposed to feel sorry for him? 'cuz I don't.

Boo-frickin' hoo.

He had to make some phone calls and take some personal responsibility, instead of having everything done for him.

My heart bleeds.

[treestar]

74. I'd give him awhile to get used to that

He wasn't raised that way.

We always assume being born into that is luck, but now seeing not always. As he said, his father and brother are trapped. They could get out - look at Edward VIII - but it would be a big deal, like it was for him. The paparazzi don't become uninterested either.

[treestar]

73. Not sure what the public pays for

but they are very wealthy on their own. do we know for sure the public pays? In that case, I suppose the public could withdraw that. But they are attached enough to keep paying attention to them, so protection would sort of be like that given to the US President. I don't know if they provide much for their prime minister, but that office strikes me as not so dangerous - I don't know of any of them having been assassinated.

Princess Anne was kidnapped once, and there were some assassination attempts on Queen Victoria, so they might have that fear.

[rickyhall]

19. And the French apparently don't believe in guard rails.

All of the above.

[Coventina]

21. It was a tragic accident, but that's all it was.

To hint that it was somehow cleverly designed by the Crown is (as the Brits say) rubbish.

[dflprincess]

32. I always thought if the Crown had had a hand in it

They would have used a car bomb and blamed the IRA.

[BlueLucy]

54. If Diana had security, she would have had her own drivers.

They would have not allowed her to get in a car with a drunk. That's the whole job of secret service. To protect.

[Coventina]

63. And the British public is obliged to provide this, why? n/t

[treestar]

75. Is is the public?

But the royal family should have, in that it is in their interests. They want to keep the monarchy up, so they seem to be concerned with the press. They might have realized how popular she remained, how the paparazzi were still interested, and how her death might end up a public relations disaster.

[muriel_volestrangler]

53. No, that's not how "royal protection" works

You are apparently thinking of the American Secret Service, since you keep calling them that.

They have a 'personal protection officer' - who acts as a bodyguard. This does not mean they have a team with extra vehicles to keep others at a distance. Diana decided she didn't want a PPO 3 years before her divorce, which was when she lost the "HRH" prefix you are worried about.

That's certainly how Ken Wharfe, who spent five years as Princess Diana's personal protection officer, felt when he ruefully found himself in charge of his department's security operation at her funeral on Sept. 6, 1997, four years after the Princess of Wales decided she no longer wanted a PPO.

https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1005151/from-stopping-assassins-to-providing-a-shoulder-to-cry-on-why-the-royal-family-s-bodyguards-mean-so-much-to-them

[Pongo]

51. Her bodyguard was in the front seat. She herself refused Royal Protection officers.

There’s tons of information on this for anyone who cares to look. She was killed by a drunk driver and not wearing a seatbelt. Her bodyguard survived despite not wearing a seatbelt, probably because of the air bag.

[pnwmom]

30. Because of excessive speed while being pursued by paparazzi. n/t

[Coventina]

62. So? They didn't have to try and outrun them.

ETA: See post #53

[pnwmom]

64. Even so, the jury itself held that the "grossly negligent driving" of the pursuing paparazzi

shared in the blame for Diana's death, along with her driver.

The jury decided on 7 April 2008 that Diana had been unlawfully killed by the "grossly negligent driving of the following vehicles [the paparazzi] and of the Mercedes driver Henri Paul." Princes William and Harry released a statement in which they said that they "agree with their verdicts and are both hugely grateful."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Diana,_Princess_of_Wales#:~:text=The%20jury%20decided%20on%207,and%20are%20both%20hugely%20grateful.%22

[Coventina]

66. I'm not defending paps, they are scum. But my point is that lack of government provided security

was not the issue.

[pnwmom]

67. Your point that I was responding to is that her death was ONLY caused by the driver's speed.

That is not what the jury held. The paparazzi's driving was also at fault.

[Coventina]

68. Well, considering her cause of death was inflicted by the crash of the car she was in

and not wearing a seatbelt, I'd say that had MORE to do with it than paps on motorcycles.

[pnwmom]

69. The jury heard all the evidence. We did not. n/t

[Coventina]

70. And frankly, I don't really care. My whole point in responding to this thread was to expresss that

1. Lack of government security was not, in ANY significant way, a contributor to Diana's death.
2. There is no credible reason why she or ANY member of the royal family, should get government provided security at taxpayer expense. They are all economically equipped to hire any security they may feel they need.

[LovingA2andMI]

34. If he does, that's on him.

And Diana did not know the driver was drunk, so insensitive much?

[Coventina]

46. Nobody knows if she knew or not. She definitely chose to not wear a seatbelt

while travelling at insane speeds.

I mean, what happened was a tragedy, it's not like I wanted her to die.
I've lost friends to traffic accidents and it's horrifying and you never get over it.
I wish she were alive and cuddling her grandkids right now.

My point is that her poor choices in that one situation is a big contributer to why she isn't here now.

It has nothing to do with whether she had government provided security.

[MFM008]

3. in all fairness

her interactions with the Al Fayed family and THEIR reckless behavior are what caused her death.
She wasn't wearing a seat belt in 1997 on that last ride.
Even when the speeding started.
My mind was boggled.
I loved her and the Royal family had nothing to do with that last decision.

[speak easy]

9. If she had British security,

Last edited Mon Mar 8, 2021, 11:57 PM - Edit history (1)

the 1997 chase would never had happened.

Her title, HRH, which entitled her to (UK) secret service security, was stripped from her on September 7, 1996

[ailsagirl]

26. That's right! n/t

[Treefrog]

59. No, it wasn't stripped from her. She refused to use it because she thought they were spying on her

and reporting back to the family.

[luvtheGWN]

27. Security for the Royal family is paid for by the UK government.

(taxpayers). Certainly, as the mother of the future King, the family could have paid for her security out of their own very deep pockets.. They chose not to, just as they chose not to pay for Harry and Meghan's security.

What they tend to forget (or refuse to acknowledge) is that Diana was, and Harry and Archie are, major kidnapping targets. If they weren't such cheap b**tards, they would have forked over the money. Significant lack of foresight on their part, and look where it got them......

Harry certainly didn't ask to be born into that family. Meghan had no idea what that family is really like.

And yes, she is my Head of State, and constitutionally it works. But still, that family has turned into a ghastly, far too long-running soap opera.

[speak easy]

28. It was the 'Palace' 's decision to strip Diana of the HRH title,

knowing, as it did, she would have to courtesy to Charles.

[luvtheGWN]

55. I think you mean "curtsey" (darn spellcheck!)

[speak easy]

56. +1

[Beringia]

29. How in the world could she not know, with what happened to Diana

[Pongo]

50. She had a bodyguard with her. He's the only one who survived.

She is the one who refused Royal Protection officers. She thought Charles was spying on her through them.

[LovingA2andMI]

35. She was in the BACK SEAT....

The Drunk Driver decided to drive fast to get away from the chase of paparazzi. Her not wearing a seatbelt does not mean in anyway she should be dead or her interaction with the Al Fayed family. WOW!

[JI7]

38. The purpose of seatbelts is to protect people in case of accidents. You are really going to dismiss

not wearing seatbelt as the cause of death ?

Come on now

[LovingA2andMI]

39. The Car Was CRUSHED...

As it hit a BRICK WALL which was the UNDERPASS of the Tunnel. She would have died WITH or WITHOUT a Seatbelt due to the impact of the crash being felt on the back and drivers side of the vehicle.

If she never got in the car with Security of the Royal Family watching her against the drunk driver, driving the car - she would likely be ALIVE today. Those ARE THE FACTS.

[Treefrog]

61. Her bodyguard was in the front seat and survived, though badly injured.

She wasn’t crushed and probably would have survived if she’d worn her seatbelt. A real shame. She would never have been driven by a drunk driver either, if she hadn’t refused her royal protection officers.

[JI7]

5. But that's not why she died. They shouldn't have taken away her security

but that wasn't why she died.

[speak easy]

10. If she had (UK) secret service protection,

the 1997 car chase would never have happened.

She was stripped of security in 1996.

[Pongo]

52. She refused her royal protection.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1997-09-03-1997246026-story.html

[LovingA2andMI]

36. If she had Security....

She would not have been in the car with the Driver who was drunk as the security would NOT have allowed it.

[JI7]

37. That's just silly . She was an adult and knew not to get in a car with a drunk driver.

[LovingA2andMI]

40. AGAIN....

He was the Driver only and not sitting with her hanging out. She DID NOT KNOW HE WAS DRUNK. This has been fact known since 1998. Where you been?

[JI7]

41. She is an adult . She still died because he was drunk and speeding.

[LovingA2andMI]

42. And That was Her FAULT?

As she DID NOT KNOW HE WAS DRUNK as HE WAS THE DRIVER. SHE DID NOT HIRE HIM. The FAYED FAMILY did. She was not at the Hotel with the driver. She was not HANGING OUT DRINKING with the Driver. The DRIVER was DRIVING a CAR doing a JOB and he got drunk without her knowledge or definitely approval. What is wrong with you? Seriously?

Again ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN since 1998. Are you Blaming Her For Her Death? Seriously? Disgusting!!!!

[JI7]

43. I'm saying why she died and it was because the guy driving the car was drunk and speeding

[LovingA2andMI]

44. You are trying to have it both ways....

And it's disgusting. PERIOD. She did not want to leave her Children without a Mother to get inside a car with a driver she knew was drunk. SHE DID NOT KNOW.

[Pongo]

48. Wowza, that's a lot of caps. I had a friend who used to be nuts about Diana too. She worshipped

the woman. Diana made a mistake even hanging around with Dodi, a known ‘playboy’ with no responsibility. She also made a mistake not wearing a seatbelt. Really doesn’t matter now, she’s gone.

[treestar]

77. The part about not wearing a seat belt

which it seems is debated as to its effect, is on her.

On this thread there is both the view that it would have made no difference and that she would have walked away from it. But by 1998 everyone knew to put them on.

[Pongo]

49. She did have security. His name is Trevor Rees-Jones and he survived.

He likely was saved by the airbag because he had no seatbelt on either, nor did he remind Diana to wear hers.

[madaboutharry]

8. They are a bizarre group of people.

After Diana was killed, Queen Elizabeth wanted to ignore the whole thing. Tony Blair had to go over to Buckingham Palace and “Save them from themselves.” Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, Fergie, always blamed the family for breaking up their marriage. (And now there is that whole Epstein thing...ugh.)

BTW, Diana died because she wasn’t wearing a seat belt. If she had been wearing a seat belt, she would have walked way without critical injuries.

[BigmanPigman]

31. Good adjective...VERY bizarre.

[Hekate]

45. Marriage matters. She went from Lady Diana Spencer to Princess Diana by virtue of marrying Charles

When she divorced him, she did not retain the title. Simple as that.

As for security guards, I assume the same applies. No doubt when her sons were with her, security was present, on their behalf.

As for Harry, afaict he just assumed certain things would always be there, and it turned out not to be so.

[Pongo]

47. Diana did not want her Royal Protection detail. She thought they were spying on her. The

She died because she got in a car with an extremely intoxicated driver, as well as not wearing a seatbelt.

[speak easy]

57. ty

Have amended the OP. Sorry

[Treefrog]

58. I know more about her story than I ever wanted to know. A friend of mine was a Diana fanatic

back in the day. I think she still has every book written by or about her. So much trivia stuck in my mind forever lol.

[lindysalsagal]

60. She didn't have to get in a car with a drunk driver and attempt to out-run paparazzi.

No one was trying to kill her. Those passages underneath the Paris bridges were narrow and treacherous. Why was she even at the Ritz? It's not secure. It's right in the middle of the most public part of paris. It's damed metro stop. The entire thing was childish and irresponsible.

Honestly, had the royals wanted her dead, a drug overdose would have been quite easy. Much easier than a car chase from beneath the Ritz in Paris, which isn't even in England, and therefore, impossible to cover-up.

If the scandal hadn't sold so many newspapers, they might not have risked their own lives to photograph her. So, some of the blame has to go to the public who buy the rubbish papers.

[aikoaiko]

76. Diana had professional security that night including the driver.

Henri Paul was drinking and taking Rx that interacts badly with alcohol, and was speeding recklessly.

Yes the paparazzi were pests, but Diana and Dodi's driver killed them.