UK NEWS
STOP THIS DISGUSTING INSULT TO DYING DIANA
By Martin Evans
ONE of Princess Diana’s closest friends yesterday joined the mounting outcry over a TV station’s plans to screen pictures of her as she lay dying.
Rosa Monckton called the decision, which will cause Princes William and Harry great distress, “absolutely disgusting”.
Saying that the sickening photographs were only being included to attract viewers, she added: “They must have
released the fact that they were using this image as part of their publicity campaign.
“Why else would people want to tune in? It’s rather like how people stop on the motorway to look at car crashes.
“They are summoning people, they are saying ‘Roll up, roll up, come and look at this’.
“Diana is not here to defend herself. She can’t be hurt by it, but her boys can. Above all else, Diana was a mother.”
|
|
LONE VOICE: The Daily Express campaign to reveal the truth
|
Miss Monckton added: “They should completely remove any photo of the immediate aftermath of the crash. It is intrusive.
“The moment of dying should be when you expect the greatest privacy and to intrude on that moment to sell a programme is absolutely disgusting. It is in appalling taste and deeply upsetting for her sons.”
But Channel 4 chiefs remained defiant as MPs and viewers expressed their disgust.
|
The moment of dying should be when you expect the greatest privacy
|
|
|
The images will appear in a documentary entitled Diana: The Witnesses In The Tunnel to be screened on June 6 as part of the run-up to the tenth anniversary of her death. The pictures, taken by French photographers, reveal the final moments of Diana’s life in graphic detail. One shows a French doctor attempting to administer oxygen to the dying Princess.
It was the publication of this image by an Italian magazine last year that prompted Princes William and Harry to issue an unprecedented statement calling on the media to respect their mother’s dignity.
But Channel 4, which was last week censured over the Celebrity Big Brother race row, has chosen to ignore their appeal.
A spokesman for Clarence House said: “The Princes have been very clear about this issue. They want their mother to be left in peace.”
A royal source added: “Images of this nature cause immense distress to the boys. We are talking about their mother’s dying moments being broadcast to the world. Nobody should have to suffer this sort of indignity, it is disgraceful and inexcusable.”
Shadow Culture Secretary Hugo Swire urged the station to scrap the documentary.
|
|
Diana and her best friend Rosa Monckton
|
He said: “Diana, as well as being a public figure, was a mother. This kind of coverage must be deeply distressing. It is difficult to see who will be served from broadcasting such sensational and private material.”
John Beyer, of Mediawatch UK, said: “This shows a disgraceful lack of respect for the Princess and her relatives.”
But Channel 4’s head of history, science and religion, Hamish Mykura, insisted the images were a necessary part of a serious documentary.
He said: “There are photos of injured and dying people taken that night. Channel 4 elected not to use them because there is a question of taste and judgment.
“If there is one thing that is going to cause distress to relatives, it is irresponsible and inaccurate reporting of this story.”
A Channel 4 spokesman added: “These photographs are an important and accurate eye-witness record. We acknowledge there is great public sensitivity surrounding pictures of the victims and these have not been included.
Some photographs will be of the scene inside the tunnel but in none of the pictures is it possible to identify Diana or indeed any of the crash victims.
“Only one image shows the occupants of the car after the crash and it has been appropriately obscured to avoid any unwarranted intrusion.”
The Daily Express has been a lone voice in campaigning for the truth to be revealed behind the deaths of Diana and Dodi Fayed.
We have run a series of articles highlighting doubts about the French inquiry’s verdict that the deaths were an accident.
Video 
WAS SHE A FRIEND?
30.05.07, 3:27am
Was Rosa a friend or a watch dog on behalf of the RF and M15-16?
Is she saying what she feels or is she trying to detour the article? Think about it!!
• Posted by: Kate • Report Comment
WAS SHE A FRIEND?
30.05.07, 3:27am
Was Rosa a friend or a watch dog on behalf of the RF and M15-16?
Is she saying what she feels or is she trying to detour the article? Think about it!!
• Posted by: Kate • Report Comment
STANDARDS SLIP EVEN FURTHER
29.05.07, 5:53pm
What possible purpose could be served by showing these pictures.It's absolutely grotesque.
• Posted by: rozipoz • Report Comment
POOR TASTE CRASH SCENES
29.05.07, 5:00pm
Why couldn't this documentary be shown without the crash scene photos?
• Posted by: mrsh1963 • Report Comment
FOR GOODNESS SAKE VOTE WITH THE ON OFF SWITCH, THAT IS WHAT ITS THERE FOR!
29.05.07, 2:23pm
They can only show such rubbish to those willing to watch I doubt anyone will be forced to watch!
• Posted by: The_Way_I_See_It • Report Comment
CORONER WOULD NOT WANT TO REVEAL THE CONTENTS OF THE SECRET PAPER BETWEEN CHARLES AND PHILIP
29.05.07, 1:10pm
The disgusting and outrage that those opposing the documentary should do is to scream on the roof top for the coroner to reveal the secret paper which the above men exchanged. If there is nothing to hide which would remove suspicion and rumors mongering that it has something to do with the accident that killed the princess of Wales let those shouting for the documentary not to be aired also respect the feeling and pain of the citizens of this nations who feel betrayed that there is a cover up.
What is good for the goose is good for the gander it is the cover up and so much to hide that is fuelling the press to go any length to expose this crime irrespective of how distasteful the method they employ to dig out the fact which has been hidden from public scrutiny.
• Posted by: Rebunk2002 • Report Comment
To view all 'Have Your Say' comments, click this button...