Diana Inquest: Princess & Dodi Planned To Visit Bond Movie Set
Written by Joanne Leyland
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Page 1 of 2
A Hollywood film producer has told the inquest into the deaths of Diana,
Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed that the couple had planned to visit the set
of the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies on September 1st 1997 –
24 hours after the car crash in which they lost their lives.
In a statement read out to the court today, Barbara Broccoli – the daughter of
the late Bond producer Albert R Broccoli – recalled details of her final conversation
with Dodi.
Often referred to as a "playboy film producer" by a somewhat disapproving British media, Dodi was closely involved with the movie industry and was part of the
team recognised with an Academy Award for the film Chariots of Fire.
Revealing details of the conversation of August 29th 1997 between herself and the friend she'd taken to calling "Mr Romeo" in reference to his relationship with Diana, Ms
Broccoli said in her statement: "He [Dodi] said he would like to see me on
September 1 1997. I told him that we were filming at Pinewood Studios and they
should come see me."
As well as attending the premiere of at least one movie documenting the
life and times of 007, the princess had previously visited the set of a
James Bond movie with Prince Charles.
During the December 1986 visit to the set of The Living Daylights, a laughing Diana (left) was given the chance to smash a fake bottle over her husband's head.
Revealing that he and Diana would be back in
Britain so that the princess could "see the boys" (Prince William and Prince
Harry), Dodi said of his romance which was by now headline news across the globe: "I
have never been so happy in my life."
"We are flying from Paris tomorrow and I
have something very important to tell you but I cannot tell you over the
phone."
