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.

'Like I Want a Bad Rash'

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."

Just a Another Moneymaking Venture Off Di's Memory?

Investigators in Britain have interviewed 1,500 people so far in the nine years since the fatal crash.

The royal family is not officially commenting on Burrell's latest allegations, but royal watchers say the family sees this as another ruthless attempt to cash in on Diana's memory.

Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, suggested that Burrell's new book was nothing but a moneymaking venture.

"Paul Burrell needs to make money, and he makes money from his memories of Diana," Seward said.

Burrell became a multimillionaire through his revelations about the princess in a series of interviews in 2002.

He says he wrote the book to provide new and important information that would eliminate theories that Diana was killed because of her relationship with Fayed.

Recent media reports say Princes William and Harry feel "deeply betrayed" by Burrell's latest revelations about their mother's love life.

In the past, some members of the royal family have fought legal battles to keep details of their private lives from being published in the press.

The latest allegations come just as Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, Britain's most senior female judge, was named to preside over an inquest next year into Diana's death.

She replaces royal coroner Michael Burgess, who pulled out of the inquest in July, citing a heavy workload.

There is already fevered speculation that those who will appear at the inquest include Prince Philip.

Prince Charles has so far ruled out an appearance before the inquiry, which many believe will prove far more complex than previously thought.