Diana's Last Words: A Mother’s Fear for Her Sons' Future

PRINCESS DIANA'S FINAL DAYS: A TALE OF LOVE, FAMILY FEUDS, AND ROYAL DRAMA

August 31, 1997, will forever be etched in history as the tragic day when Princess Diana's life was cut short in a car crash in the Pont de l'Alma Tunnel in Paris. But what led up to this devastating event? A look into the princess's final days reveals a complex web of family dynamics, romantic entanglements, and royal politics that would ultimately seal her fate.

On that fateful afternoon, Diana and her beau, Dodi Fayed, arrived at the Ritz Hotel in the heart of Paris. The Imperial Suite, their luxurious home away from home, was buzzing with activity as they settled in for a relaxing evening. But little did they know, their lives were about to take a dramatic turn.

As Diana chatted with her anxious son, Prince William, over the phone, she revealed her concerns about his upcoming photocall at Eton to mark the start of his third year. According to Andrew Morton, Diana's biographer and author of "Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words," the princess had struck a deal with the press to provide occasional official photo opportunities in exchange for leaving William and his younger brother, Prince Harry, out of the spotlight.

Morton wrote, "In return for leaving the young princes in peace, the media would be given occasional official photo opportunities. William was worried that there was a danger this his younger brother, Prince Harry, was being overshadowed." It's clear that Diana took her role as mother seriously and was determined to protect her sons from the intense scrutiny of the paparazzi.

Meanwhile, Dodi slipped out of the suite to visit a nearby jewelry store, Alberto Repossi. There, he picked up the "Tell Me Yes" ring, estimated to be worth around £11,000, which Diana had chosen during their Mediterranean cruise in Monte Carlo. This was no ordinary piece of jewelry; it was a symbol of Dodi's love and commitment to the princess.

As the evening wore on, Dodi spoke with his Saudi Arabian friend, Hassan Yassin, who was staying at the Ritz that night. According to Morton, Dodi revealed his plans to marry Diana, saying, "It's serious. We're going to get married." Hassan recalled, "I was happy for him, for both of them."

Later that evening, Dodi and Diana planned to visit his apartment on the Champs-Élysées before having supper at Le Benoit restaurant near the Pompidou Centre. Morton penned, "Was it here that Dodi planned to make a declaration of love, present the ring, which was later found in his apartment, and ask for Diana's hand in marriage?" The question still lingers: would they have taken their relationship to the next level?

One of the last people Diana called on the night of her death was none other than Richard Kay, the Editor at Large of thescholarlynote.com. He revealed that Diana had been planning to return to London the following day but bad weather had delayed her by 24 hours.

"The delay meant she would not arrive back at Kensington Palace until Sunday," Richard explained, "when William and Harry were due to join her after their three-and-a-half weeks with Prince Charles and the royals at Balmoral." It's clear that Diana was looking forward to being reunited with her sons and had planned for them to spend quality time together.

Richard also shared a telling anecdote about Diana's dismay over William's impending photocall at Eton. "Diana had established that, wherever possible, the boys should share the spotlight," he wrote in an article commemorating the 20th anniversary of Diana's death on thescholarlynote.com. "It was a deal that Charles faithfully kept to throughout the following years."

But what about Prince Harry? Did he have any involvement in this family drama? According to his bombshell memoir, Spare, Harry alleged that William told him to pretend not to know him during their time at Eton. Why? Because, as Harry recalled, "For the last two years, it had been his sanctuary. No kid brother tagging along, pestering him with questions, pushing up on his social circle. He was forging his own life, and he wasn’t willing to give that up."

In the end, it's a tragic irony that Diana's final days were filled with plans for love, family, and a sense of normalcy, but ultimately cut short by the cruel hand of fate.