New Diana info 'publicity stunt'

The former bodyguard of the Princess of Wales has called the new claims that Diana was murdered by a member of the British military a "publicity stunt".

Ken Wharfe, the Princess's former Metropolitan Police bodyguard, told The Daily Telegraph: "If these parents were so concerned that this information was relevant or had some general import, then they should have delivered it to the inquest.

"Why has it taken so long to air this new information? It seems so shallow to me. I just think it's a bit of a publicity stunt.

"For what reason I'm not certain, but in the absence of any real evidence, I'm sure this will go away."

Read: Mohamed al Fayed 'interested in seeing outcome' of Met probe

The Sunday People reports that new information relating to Princess Diana's death emerged during the court martial of the former SAS sniper Danny Nightingale.

It is claimed that one of the pieces of evidence put before the court was a seven-page letter written by the parents in-law of another SAS operative, known only as 'Soldier N'.

The letter, which was allegedly sent to the commanding officer of the elite unit, is said to claim that Soldier N boasted that the SAS "was behind Princess Diana's death".

Danny Nightingale was found guilty of illegally possessing a gun and ammunition by a court martial board in July 2013.

The former press secretary to the Queen, Dickie Arbiter, has described today's claims of new information on Princess Diana's death as "another red herring".

A former Head of Royal Protection, Dai Davies, has said he is "mystified" by today's announcement of new information relating to the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed.

He told ITV News that the deaths were "an accident by any definition, and three separate inquiries ... have come to the same independent conclusion."

"I am absolutely convinced this was an accident so I'm mystified, after 13 years, how any new information can possibly allege anything other than [that] this was a tragic accident."

A spokesman for Mohamed al Fayed, whose son died alongside Princess Diana in 1997, said he had no comment to make.

But it added that he will be "interested in seeing the outcome", and that he trusts the Metropolitan Police will investigate the information "with vigour".

New information relating to the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed was reportedly passed on to Scotland Yard by the Royal Military Police (RMP), although this has not been confirmed. Here are some facts about the RMP:

• Part of the Army rather than a police force
• Responsible for policing the military community, both in garrison and on operations worldwide
• Undertake "serious and protacted investigations" and provide specialist support - such as forensics - to other investigations

• Also provide bodyguards for senior military personnel on operations
• Approximately 2,500 personnel

(Ministry of Defence)

Investigative journalist Martyn Gregory has said he is excited to hear the announcement from the Metropolitan Police relating to new information about Princess Diana's death.

He told BBC News that previous allegations of a conspiracy have come from members of Dodi al Fayed's family, but this information appears to have come from a new source.

New information which has been passed to the police relating to the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed is thought to include an allegation that they were murdered by a member of the British military, according to the PA news agency.

It is understood the allegation was made by the former parents-in-law of a former soldier based on information that the ex-soldier talked about in the past, according to a military source.

• August 31 1997: Diana, Dodi and chauffeur Henri Paul die when car crashes in Paris after leaving Ritz Hotel.
• September 3 1999: French accident report blames Paul, claims he was drunk and under influence of anti-depressants.

• July 2000: Mohamed al Fayed loses court battle for inquests into deaths.
• January 6, 2004: Diana and Dodi's inquests opened and adjourned, more than six years after deaths.

• April 7 2008: Inquest returns verdict of unlawful killing, Henri Paul and paparazzi "share blame for deaths".
• August 17 2013: Scotland Yard is "scoping information" recently received regarding deaths.

The hearing into the deaths of Diana and Mr Fayed lasted more than 90 days with evidence from around 250 witnesses.

The inquests concluded on April 7 2008, with a jury returning a verdict that the "People's Princess" and her boyfriend were unlawfully killed.

After the hearing, the Metropolitan Police said they had spent £8m on services arising from the inquest and the Operation Paget investigation from 2004 to 2006.

That money includes the cost of the legal team which represented the force's commissioner at the inquest, police protection for the inquest jury and paying for the Paget inquiry, reported to have cost £3.6m.