Diana Did Not Want to Remarry

Sept. 4, 2006 — -- Princess Diana of Wales was in no mood to remarry, her closest aide has revealed in a new book serialized by Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Paul Burrell, Diana's former butler who has been criticized for making controversial claims about his time working for the princess, began publicizing the memoir titled "The Way We Were" just days after the ninth anniversary of Diana's death.

Diana and her companion, Dodi Al-Fayed, died following a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31, 1997.

In his new book, Burrell says that observers should stop speculating on whether Diana and Fayed were planning to marry at the time of their deaths.

"The world must stop believing Diana and Dodi were due to get married because that is simply not true," he wrote.

Burrell's allegation is completely at odds with the popular belief trumpeted by Fayed's father, Mohammed Al-Fayed, that the two were deeply in love and were set to marry.

Fayed has repeatedly said that Diana and his son were killed by British intelligence officials following a secret plot initiated by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Burrell says he has solved the mystery surrounding a $5,000 ring given to Diana by Fayed two days before their deaths.

The ring in question has been interpreted by some as an engagement ring -- an interpretation dismissed by Burrell who says this was a "friendship" ring worn by the princess on her right hand.

In his book, Burrell says Diana did not relish marrying again.

"I want another marriage like I want a bad rash," Burrell quoted Diana in the book.

Police investigating Diana's death have dismissed Burrell's talk of new evidence.

According to the Daily Mail, police said Burrell had disclosed all of the information to them when he was interviewed two years ago.

The newspaper quoting a source close to the inquest into Diana's death said, "This information is not new."