Channel 4 Criticesed Over Diana Documentary
Following a newspaper report, shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire urged the channel's bosses to cancel the show, Diana: The Witnesses In The Tunnel. Due to be shown on 6 June, it includes pictures taken by French photographers following the 1997 collision in Paris. Channel 4 said none of the images identified Diana or the other victims. Diana Dodi Al Fayed, and driver Henri Paul were all killed when their Mercedes crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel Paris as they fled the attentions of chasing paparazzi as they left the Ritz Hotel. The Observer newspaper had reported the Channel 4 feature included a picture of the Princess of Wales being treated with oxygen by a French doctor, along with images of the inside of the car, as well as interviews with photographers who were at the scene and other witnesses were also included. Channel 4 said in a statement the Observer article was "both misleading and inaccurate" because much of it is was based on the views of people who had not seen the film. "The death of Diana, Princess of Wales, has been a defining moment in British contemporary history, affecting the public's view of the monarchy and of celebrity photographers. "We acknowledge that there is great public sensitivity surrounding pictures of the victims and these have not been included.
"Only one image shows the occupants of the car after the crash and it has been appropriately obscured to avoid any unwarranted intrusion into their privacy or that of their families.
"We are confident that once people have seen this film they will agree that it is a well-made and responsible documentary."
Shadow culture secretary Mr Swire said the coverage would be "deeply distressing" to Princes William and Harry.
Diana's friend Rosa Monckton told BBC Radio Four's The World at One the decision to broadcast the pictures was designed to boost ratings.
"It's rather like...how people stop on a motorway to look at car crashes. But they are summoning people; they are saying 'roll up, roll up - come and look at this'.
"She can't be hurt by it but her boys can. Above all else, Diana was a mother," she said. .
A three-year inquiry conducted by former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens concluded Princess Diana had died in a tragic accident. Chauffeur Henri Paul was speeding and over the legal drink-drive limit, it said
Inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed are due to begin in October.