The dog walker was waiting for his stubborn canine companion to go to the toilet when a black Mercedes sped past.
Fatal crash
It was the 31st of August 1997, just after midnight. The Mercedes was driving far too fast as it entered the road tunnel in Paris. And then it happened. The man heard squealing tires, a loud bang, and glass shattering before the constant sound of the car's horn.
The dog walker immediately takes out his phone and calls emergency services, saying, "I'm at Pont d'Alma. There was an accident in the tunnel. I think it's serious."
It was only later that the man realised that the car contained Princess Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi Al-Fayed, who would tragically die from their injuries.
Netflix series
While the news of Princess Diana’s death shocked people around the world back in 1997, almost 30 years later, her final moments have been recreated for the immensely popular Netflix series, “The Crown”.
The car journey that led to the fatal crash as Diana and Dodi fled from the paparazzi was filmed just 100 meters away from where the crash happened. Princess Diana, played by Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki, is seen sitting in the back of the Mercedes moments before the crash.
The rest of season 5 of The Crown is dedicated to the story of Charles and Camilla. However, Diana does make a subsequent appearance in the show, but as a ghost or vision to characters mourning her.
