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BBC News reporter Martyn Lewis delivered the dramatic news that Princess Diana had been involved in a serious car crash in France at 1.45am.
The sombre-looking BBC presenter announced the car the Princess of Wales was travelling in had reportedly crashed in West Paris in the late hours of August 31 and had been rushed to a hospital.
Mr Lewis said: “We interrupt this film to tell you we are getting reports that Diana, Princess of Wales, has been badly injured in a car crash in France.
“French radio is saying that the accident happened in Western Paris when the car she was travelling in collided with another vehicle in a tunnel.”
The BBC News report interrupted a showing of the gangster film Borsalino in the middle of a funeral scene set in France.
Initial reports did not disclose whether the Princess was badly injured but did claim her partner, Dodi al-Fayed, and her driver had been killed in the crash.
The BBC reported continued: “There is no news of her condition and as yet the report is unconfirmed.
“It’s also reported that a passenger in the Princess’s car was killed. One report quoting French police says it is her friend Dodo al-Fayed.
“It’s also reported that the driver of the Princess’s car was killed. I repeat that these reports are unconfirmed. We will bring you more news as soon as we have it.”
BBC News announced Princess Diana had died at the Pitie Salpetriere Hospital in Paris after confirmation came from Buckingham Palace at 5.20am. The Princess of Wales died as a result of injuries sustained during the car crash.
Years after the tragic accident, the BBC host said he had rushed back to the BBC Television Centre in West London after his daughter had woken up with the news.
Mr Lewis, who revealed he kept a dark suit and black tie at the ready to announce major deaths, changed his from the initial dark blue suit after the Royal Family had confirmed Diana’s death: “I knew instantly what it had to be.
“There was a dark grey suit, white shirt and black tie kept in a wardrobe at the BBC for occasions like this and that’s what I changed into to announce her death.
“Newscasters have to develop an emotional cocoon and I was used to not letting myself be affected by the enormity of stories I read.”
He added: “Yet I have to confess that there was a moment I lost it for a brief few seconds. I felt myself start to go when repeating the words Tony Blair spoke about her: “She was the people’s princess and that’s how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and in our memories forever.”
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