An inquest into the death of Britain's Princess Diana in Paris in 1997 will be opened next month, the Royal Family's coroner said today.
Dr Michael Burgess, coroner for Surrey, who is also responsible for inquests into royal deaths, said separate inquests for Diana and her friend Dodi Al Fayed would begin on January 6th.
"At neither hearing will I be receiving any evidence from witnesses attending in person," he said in a statement."I will, however, make a statement which will cover such matters as the purpose of the inquests, how they may be expected to be conducted and the nature and scope of evidence that I expect to receive."
Diana died alongside Dodi and their chauffeur Henri Paul when their Mercedes car crashed in a Paris tunnel on August 31st, 1997, as it sped away from the Ritz hotel. An inquiry by French authorities in 1999 ruled that it was an accident caused by Mr Paul being drunk and driving too fast.
Paris authorities say there are no plans to reopen the case there. "The Diana dossier is definitely closed," a source said. A spokesman for the Royal Family said the inquest was "entirely a matter for the coroner".
Dodi's father, Harrods store owner Mr Mohammed Al Fayed, has repeatedly called for a British inquiry into their deaths, insisting that Diana and his son were murdered by the British secret services.
Taking his case before a Scottish court on Monday, Mr Fayed said: "This was not only my son but the most famous, the most-loved woman in the world."
PA