Let’s Honor Princess Diana’s Memory And Put the Conspiracy Theories to Rest

On August 31st, 1997, Princess Diana was killed in an infamous car crash. Sixteen years later, people are still talking about it. On that night, Princess Di was with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed and the two were being stalked by the paparazzi. The couple was frantically trying to avoid their photos being taken, so the driver (Henri Paul, who happened to be three times over the French legal limit for alcohol) sped up the car and crashed it in a tunnel. All famous tragedies are coupled with conspiracy theories. A quasi-popular belief is that the Princess and her boyfriend were actually murdered.

It’s natural to disbelieve someone so well-liked and affluent could die such a common death, and perhaps that’s why these conspiracy theories have bounced around and survived all 16 years. We become obsessed with these events, creating something out of nothing for the sake of another explanation. Also, people still can’t let go of the fact that Princess Diana was dating Dodi Fayed and possibly still romantically involved with Hasnat Khan (a former boyfriend); many of the conspiracy theories suggest that the British military killed the Princess off because of her lifestyle, because she was dating Muslim men and therefore setting a “bad example” as the mother of the future King.  Scotland Yard, basically the British FBI, recently announced that they are going to be re-investigating (although not re-opening the case) information about the car crash, which caused a major media stir. This time, most publications are shaking their heads and urging their readers not to believe the rumors and the roar.

There was never any concrete evidence that even leaned toward murder. The case was dropped years ago. Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton just had a baby. Prince Harry was just in Africa visiting his mother’s land mine charity work. The royal family has moved on, and understandably so.

Princess Diana’s death was grossly public; not only did the princes’ mother die, but she died in a harsh, morbidly glowing spotlight. Death is hard enough to deal with on a normal scale, but when it’s blown up for the world to see, it becomes nearly impossible to grieve normally. I can only imagine it must have been difficult for the boys, who had to deal with constant media coverage and glaring reminders.

So when it’s decided to re-hash old news that has desperately been buried over and over again, we have to ask ourselves if is it really necessary. Princess Diana’s death isn’t an old film that’s been re-released; it shouldn’t be treated like a new edition that has to be viewed again. Like I stated before, no compelling evidence was even found that even linked the British military to the car crash. The driver was definitely drunk. He was definitely speeding. There was definitely paparazzi chasing them. What is left to dispute?

At this point, isn’t it extremely inconsiderate to be digging up “new information” about a woman who died so long ago? Her family must be considered; they buried their mother sixteen years ago and eventually they made peace with her death. It’s about time everyone else did, too.

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