Princess Diana and Prince Harry.
Princess Diana and Prince Harry.
Princess Diana and Prince Harry.
Princess Diana and Prince Harry.

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Prince Harry's car chase a chilling reminder of Diana's death

The death of the prince's mother in 1997, when she was being pursued by photographers, has shaped his life

Tariq Tahir
Tariq Tahir

May 17, 2023

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Prince Harry’s latest brush with the paparazzi in the US inevitably has echoes of the car crash that killed his mother.

The pursuit of Princess Diana by photographers through the streets of Paris in 1997 ended in tragedy when the car she was in crashed, killing her and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed.

The prince and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were involved in a “near-catastrophic car chase” that involved several “aggressive” paparazzi, the couple's representative said on Wednesday.

At the time of his mother's death, Prince Harry was just 12 and the world watched him and his brother Prince William walk behind her coffin at her funeral.

That memory and the anger he feels towards the British tabloid press, whom he blames collectively for Diana's death, have cast a shadow over his life and continue to shape his worldview.

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In his autobiography Spare, he described the guilt and grief he felt as a child while walking outside Kensington Palace after his mother's death.

He has made it clear that he sees a parallel between the treatment of his wife by the UK tabloids and that of his mother, and he is concerned about the potential for a comparable outcome.

“I don't want history to repeat itself,” he said in an interview with UK broadcaster ITV. “I do not want to be a single dad and I certainly don't want my children to have a life without a mother or a father.”

A million bouquets were left at Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, and St. James's Palace after Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed. Getty Images
A million bouquets were left at Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, and St. James's Palace after Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed. Getty Images

He said he believed “the people that were predominantly responsible for it, all got away with it”.

The prince's three ongoing lawsuits against three British newspapers show his desire to settle scores has not diminished.

He told Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that such was the devastation he felt after his mother's death that he refused to believe she was dead for years.

Princess Diana through the years – in pictures

Ten-year-old Lady Diana Spencer during a summer holiday in Itchenor, West Sussex, in 1971. Here 'The National' takes a look back through Princess Diana's life in pictures. Getty
Ten-year-old Lady Diana Spencer during a summer holiday in Itchenor, West Sussex, in 1971. Here 'The National' takes a look back through Princess Diana's life in pictures. Getty
Lady Diana Spencer, 19 at the time, responds to the press while getting into a car in London, in 1980. Getty
Lady Diana Spencer, 19 at the time, responds to the press while getting into a car in London, in 1980. Getty
The Prince and Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, on July 29, 1981. Getty
The Prince and Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, on July 29, 1981. Getty
Princess Diana smiling as she prepares to embrace a woman in the crowd, on the streets of Carmarthen, Wales, in 1981. Getty
Princess Diana smiling as she prepares to embrace a woman in the crowd, on the streets of Carmarthen, Wales, in 1981. Getty
Princess Diana and Prince Charles with their son, Prince William, in December 1983. Getty Images
Princess Diana and Prince Charles with their son, Prince William, in December 1983. Getty Images
Princess Diana wearing the Spencer family tiara at state dinner in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1983. PA
Princess Diana wearing the Spencer family tiara at state dinner in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1983. PA
Princess Diana And Prince Charles watch an official event during their first royal Australian tour in 1983. Getty
Princess Diana And Prince Charles watch an official event during their first royal Australian tour in 1983. Getty
Princess Diana and Prince Charles with newborn Prince Harry, leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, in 1984. Getty
Princess Diana and Prince Charles with newborn Prince Harry, leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, in 1984. Getty
Princess Diana meets members of the public during a visit to a community centre in north London in 1985. Getty
Princess Diana meets members of the public during a visit to a community centre in north London in 1985. Getty
Princess Diana arrives at a dinner during a visit to Australia in 1985. AFP
Princess Diana arrives at a dinner during a visit to Australia in 1985. AFP
Princess Diana sits on a step at her home, Highgrove House, in Doughton, Gloucestershire, in 1986. Getty
Princess Diana sits on a step at her home, Highgrove House, in Doughton, Gloucestershire, in 1986. Getty
Prince Charles and Princess Diana and their sons, Princes William and Harry, on a cycle ride around the island of Tresco, Italy, in 1989. AP
Prince Charles and Princess Diana and their sons, Princes William and Harry, on a cycle ride around the island of Tresco, Italy, in 1989. AP
Princess Diana stoops down to pick up a walking stick after a woman she dropped it over the crowd barrier, during a walkabout in Hong Kong in 1989. Reuters
Princess Diana stoops down to pick up a walking stick after a woman she dropped it over the crowd barrier, during a walkabout in Hong Kong in 1989. Reuters
Princess Diana waves on her way to visit US first lady Barbara Bush at the White House in Washington, in 1990. AFP
Princess Diana waves on her way to visit US first lady Barbara Bush at the White House in Washington, in 1990. AFP
Princess Diana and her sons onboard the 'Maid of Mist' ship as they take a close look at the Niagara Falls, Canada, in 1991. PA
Princess Diana and her sons onboard the 'Maid of Mist' ship as they take a close look at the Niagara Falls, Canada, in 1991. PA
Princess Diana poses alone at the Taj Mahal during her visit to India in 1992. Getty
Princess Diana poses alone at the Taj Mahal during her visit to India in 1992. Getty
Princess Diana holds the hands of Mother Teresa during their first meeting at the Missionary Sisters of Charity residence in Rome, Italy, in 1992. Reuters
Princess Diana holds the hands of Mother Teresa during their first meeting at the Missionary Sisters of Charity residence in Rome, Italy, in 1992. Reuters
Princess Diana with her sons outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 1992. PA
Princess Diana with her sons outside St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 1992. PA
Princess Diana listens to a young boy during her visit to a home for children in Paris, France, in 1992. AFP
Princess Diana listens to a young boy during her visit to a home for children in Paris, France, in 1992. AFP
Princes William and Harry applaud alongside their mother, Princess Diana, during a Five Nations rugby match between Wales and France in 1992. AFP
Princes William and Harry applaud alongside their mother, Princess Diana, during a Five Nations rugby match between Wales and France in 1992. AFP
Princess Diana speaks to Nepali children while touring a Red Cross project in the Himalayan foothills in 1993. AFP
Princess Diana speaks to Nepali children while touring a Red Cross project in the Himalayan foothills in 1993. AFP
Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Prince William carrying their skis during a skiing holiday in Lech am Arlberg, Austria, in 1994. Getty
Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Prince William carrying their skis during a skiing holiday in Lech am Arlberg, Austria, in 1994. Getty
Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles outside Manor House, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995. Getty
Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles outside Manor House, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995. Getty
Martin Bashir speaking to Princess Diana in Kensington Palace during the infamous 'Panorama' interview that was aired by the BBC in 1995. Getty
Martin Bashir speaking to Princess Diana in Kensington Palace during the infamous 'Panorama' interview that was aired by the BBC in 1995. Getty
Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their children watch the march past on the mall as part of the commemorations of VJ Day in London in 1995. AFP
Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their children watch the march past on the mall as part of the commemorations of VJ Day in London in 1995. AFP
Princess Diana meets with John Collins, a 51-year-old lung cancer patient, while visiting Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Hospice in 1996. AFP
Princess Diana meets with John Collins, a 51-year-old lung cancer patient, while visiting Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Hospice in 1996. AFP
Princess Diana during a visit to Leicester, to formally open The Richard Attenborough Centre for Disability and Arts, in May 1997. Getty
Princess Diana during a visit to Leicester, to formally open The Richard Attenborough Centre for Disability and Arts, in May 1997. Getty
Princess Diana, wearing protective body armour, visits a minefield being cleared by the charity, Halo, in Huambo, Angola, in 1997. Getty
Princess Diana, wearing protective body armour, visits a minefield being cleared by the charity, Halo, in Huambo, Angola, in 1997. Getty
South African President Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana speak with the press after meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1997. AFP
South African President Nelson Mandela and Princess Diana speak with the press after meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1997. AFP
Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Earl Spencer, and Prince William watch as the coffin of Princess Diana is carried into Westminster Abbey, London, in September 1997. AFP
Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Earl Spencer, and Prince William watch as the coffin of Princess Diana is carried into Westminster Abbey, London, in September 1997. AFP
Floral tributes for Princess Diana in front of Kensington Palace in London, in 1997. AFP
Floral tributes for Princess Diana in front of Kensington Palace in London, in 1997. AFP
Prince William places a bunch of flowers with the hundreds tributes already laid outside his mother's official residence at Kensington Palace, in 1997. AFP
Prince William places a bunch of flowers with the hundreds tributes already laid outside his mother's official residence at Kensington Palace, in 1997. AFP
Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother, at Kensington Palace in 2021, on what would have been her 60th birthday. PA
Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue they commissioned of their mother, at Kensington Palace in 2021, on what would have been her 60th birthday. PA

“The clicking of cameras and the flashing of cameras makes my blood boil,” he said.

“It makes me angry and takes me back to what happened to my mum and my experience as a kid.”

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