The Princess of Wales, a beautiful, famous and rich woman won a place in many of our hearts. All she wanted was a happy life - but instead suffered.

The Princess of Wales died on the 31st of August 1997 in a tragic car accident in Paris, France. The vehical, a dark blue Mercedes, in which the Princess was travelling in was involved in a high-speed accident in the Place de L'Alma tunnel along the Seine River, in central Paris before midnight on Saturday, 30th of August. The Princess was reportedly being chased by a group of photographers who where trying to snap photographs of the princess.

Diana and Dodi Fayed, the son of the billionaire Egyptian owner of London's prestigious Harrods department store, had arrived in Paris on Saturday afternoon on a private visit. They had dined at the Ritz and were headed to a villa owned by Dodi in a posh district in western Paris.

She was then taken to the La Pitie Salpetriere Hospital where she had to undergo two hours of emergency surgery before being declared dead at 0300 BST. Her companion, Dodi Fayed and the driver of the vehical died on the spot, while a bodyguard was seriously injured.

Princess Diana died of cardiac arrest due to internal bleeding. Doctors at Hospital La Pitie Salpetriere had to open Diana's chest cavity to find a wound of the left pulmonary vein. External and internal heart massage failed to start the princess' heart. She also suffered from major lung and head injuries.

Princess Diana's car was traveling at 128 to 136 kmh when the car slammed into a concrete abutment in the narrow tunnel, careened into a wall and was crushed just like an aluminium can, police said. According to witnesses, Paparazzi were pursuing the car on motorcycles.

Authorities said seven photographers were in custody. Six of them were reported to be French and the other, Macedonian. A criminal investigation was under way. Police also seized two motorcycles and a motor scooter believed used in the chase.

At least some of the photographers took pictures before help arrived and that one of the photographers was beaten at the scene by horrified witnesses.

People started to gather outside Diana's Kesington Palace before down. Some sat with their heads in their hands and wept. Thousands of flowers from mourners adorned the palace gate. Some feel shocked, others sad, while the the family members of Diana felt angry at the Paparazzi for their act that cost The Princess' life.

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