Princess Diana was reportedly nine weeks pregnant at the time of her death, a French journalist claims.
London, Aug 23 : Princess Diana was reportedly nine weeks pregnant at the time of her death, a French journalist claims.
The investigative journalist has found evidence, which proves with 'near certainty', that Diana was carrying a baby at the time of her tragic car crash.
Chris Lafaille claimed, that he found the proof that was kept hidden for ten years due to 'ethical and privacy' concerns, from archives at the hospital where Diana was taken after the accident on August 31, 1997.
The journalist, who formerly worked with Paris Match magazine made the claims in a book called 'Diana, the Inquiry They Never Published', which will be out on August 27.
"It is a near certainty Diana was nine to 10 weeks pregnant at the time she died, according to papers from the Paris Public Hospitals archives," the Daily Express quoted Lafaille, as saying.
"The document dated August 31 1997 was sent to the then minister of the interior Jean-Pierre Chevenement, with copies to health minister Bernard Kouchner, foreign affairs minister Hubert Vedrine and Paris police chief Martine Monteil," he said.
The new revelation revives conspiracy theories that have surrounded the Princess' death investigation, and might explain why she was embalmed in the hours after her death.
The process, carried out contrary to French law, meant any potential pregnancy test results would have been rendered invalid.
Lafaille's claims address one of the key questions listed by coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, who is investigating Diana's death over allegations that she was murdered in a criminal conspiracy.
The hearings will examine whether Diana feared for her life, whether she was pregnant and whether chauffeur Henri Paul was drunk or on drugs to answer public's suspicions that she and Fayad were murdered by British agents because they were about to get engaged and she was pregnant.
Dodi Fayed's dad Mohamed Al Fayed had always claimed that Diana was pregnant at the time of her death, but these reports have been dismissed by former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens in 'Operation Paget' after he was officiated to conduct an independent inquiry into Di's death.
The Harrods boss' spokesman insisted that if there were any such evidences to support the claims, they should be submitted to the coroner.
"If there is any new evidence it should be handed to the coroner so he can properly conduct the inquest," the spokesman said.
The new revelations will raise further speculation as to who might have been the father to Diana's unborn child as she had been holidaying with Dodi Fayed prior to the fatal crash in Paris, and many believe that she was murdered by the British establishment to prevent her marrying a Muslim.
ANI