The former Royal Correspondent of the Daily Mail has told the High Court inquest into the death of his friend Diana, Princess of Wales that she believed it was her "destiny" to live outside Britain.

Addressing the High Court on the final day of the inquest before the Christmas break, Richard Kay said Diana envisioned a life for herself far from the spotlight which dogged her every move.

The princess had also admitted she was considering winding down her high profile and controversial anti-landmines campaign.

Nicholas Hilliard, for the Coroner, asked Richard Kay if the 36-year-old princess had told him "my destiny is to go abroad" in a phone conversation she had with the journalist just hours before she died in the hours after the car crash of August 31st 1997.

However, the princess who famously voiced a desire to be known as a "Queen of people's hearts" continued to harbour hopes of opening a worldwide hospice network in her name.

The princess told Kay that she was in discussions with Mohamed Al Fayed to bring her dream of establishing 'The Diana Hospices' to fruition, the Mail's diary columnist telling the court today: "She told me that she was discussing with Mr al Fayed Snr the possibility of setting up some sort of worldwide hospice network which she indicated he would be prepared to financially underwrite."



Replied the journalist, who was in his words a "sounding board" for the princess: "She did Sir, it was a frequent topic."Revealing Diana’s wish to get away from the paparazzi, Kay also told the court the princess commented that the "British people must be sick of seeing me in the papers".

This sentiment is similar to one expressed by Diana during her Panorama interview of November 1995.

<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>