Diana Feared That Fayed Was Bugging Her on Yacht, Says Sister

Jan 28, 06:07 PM

PRINCESS DIANA believed she was being bugged by Mohamed Fayed while she holidayed on his yacht, her inquest heard today.

She told her sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, of her fears that she was being listened to just days before she died.

Lady Sarah, Diana's eldest sister, told the inquest: "She thought she was being bugged by Mr al Fayed senior." Asked if she had any "basis" for the allegations, Lady Sarah said: "None," and said she made the call to her while she holidayed with Dodi during the second trip on the Jonikal. Lady Sarah the closest family member to give evidence at the High Court inquest also said that during her last conversation with the princess there was no mention of either an engagement to Dodi or pregnancy.

The conversation took place on 29 August 1997, two days before the princess died in Paris in a car crash with Dodi Fayed and the driver Henri Paul.

Lady Sarah described her relationship with the princess as "particularly close" and said that they spoke on the telephone regularly as well as seeing each other face-to-face.

She said that the princess often confided in her over personal and private matters including her love life.

One of the relationships Diana discussed with her sister was her love affair with Hasnat Khan, the Pakistani heart surgeon with whom she had a two-year relationship.

Lady Sarah said that she believed her sister would marry the surgeon. She described that relationship as "established" and added: "I believe there was a strong possibility that they might have married." But Lady Sarah said that the heart surgeon "couldn't take her lifestyle" and that is why the relationship ended. She added: "I don't think [Diana] believed the relationship was ended." Asked about Diana's relationship with Dodi Fayed, Lady Sarah said she believed it was close to ending after Diana's summer romance.

During her last conversation she recalled that Diana was "distraught" about an article in the French newspaper Le Monde.

"I told her to tell Dodi about it but she said that would be a waste of time." Lady Sarah also dismissed claims that Diana had received "nasty" letters from the Duke of Edinburgh.

She said she remembered discussing the subject with her sister and the media coverage and that "[Diana] was amused by that". Lady Sarah claimed Diana's relationship with Prince Philip was "good" and that she was "fond" of the Queen.

Lady Sarah said Diana had never aired fears that Charles was planning an accident.

But she admitted that during the height of her divorce her sister's state would be "up and down". However, she said once the divorce was over Diana became "much more focused". The inquest continues..

(c) 2008 Evening Standard; London (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved. Diana Feared That Fayed Was Bugging Her on Yacht, Says Sister
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