Photo of the Ritz chauffeur, Henri Paul, who died in the car crash which killed princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.
Jan. 6
The first British inquest into Diana's death opens with a coroner formally requesting London's Metropolitan Police to start an investigation. A separate inquest into Dodi's death also commences. An inquest, which is held in Britain when someone dies unexpectedly, violently or of unknown causes, is designed to establish basic facts, not assign blame. It cannot proceed until an official police investigation is completed.
April 22
Diana's family criticizes CBS for broadcasting never-before-seen photographs of Diana just before she died, saying they are "shocked and sickened." The pictures were taken moments after the car crash and were part of a 4,000-page French government report CBS recently obtained.
Aug. 12
Persistent claims by Henri Paul's parents that their son was not drunk at the time of his fatal car accident prompt French authorities to open a new investigation.