FRANCE: FUNERAL OF HENRI PAUL, DRIVER OF CAR IN WHICH DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES DIED

Record ID: 915861

  • Title: FRANCE: FUNERAL OF HENRI PAUL, DRIVER OF CAR IN WHICH DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES DIED
  • Date: 20th September 1997
  • Summary: LORIENT, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 20, 1997) (AGENCY POOL) SCU PAUL'S MOTHER AND AUNTS, (FAMILY LAWYER SEATED BEHIND MOTHER) MV PALLBEARERS PLACE COFFIN IN FRONT OF ALTAR CU CANDLE BURNING LV HEARSE DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH CEMETERY WITH PALLBEARERS WALKING AHEAD MV FUNERAL PROCESSION WALKING BEHIND HEARSE SCU WREATH PLACED ON TOP OF COFFIN WHICH IS ON A STAND MV/SLV MOURNERS LOOK ON (2 SHOTS) SLV FAMILY BLESSING COFFIN LV CEMETERY AND BURIAL
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 18:10
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LORIENT, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Disasters,People,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA4GGYIOJEPQW7U1J6LFPRI2T9T
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The funeral of Henri Paul, the driver of the car in which Diana, Princess of Wales, died three weeks ago, has taken place in his home town - Lorient in western France.
    Family and friends attended the simple service on Saturday (September 20), at the Roman Catholic church of Sainte-Therese de Keryado, which was strewn with flowers. Dozens of police kept reporters at bay outside.
    Paul, 41, was buried in Lorient, a fishing and navy port, three weeks after the August 31 accident in which he died with Diana and her companion Dodi Al Fayed.
    About 12 relatives accompanied the simple plain wood coffin, which was driven to the church under police escort.
    The funeral was delayed to allow autopsies which showed that Paul was three times over the legal drink drive limit and had also taken anti-depressant drugs.
    The priest, Father Theraud, read the congregation the words of Diana's mother Frances Shand Kydd, which he said he had read in a Scottish newspaper.
    He quoted her as saying: "I feel neither anger nor reproach towards anyone for Diana's death. My heart suffers for Mr Paul's family. Of all three families his has suffered the worst." Henri Paul's coffin was carried from the church at 11.30am (1130GMT) after a one-hour service, for the final journey to the cemetery, half a mile away.
    Leading the mourners out of the church were Mr Paul's parents, their heads held high. Behind them were Mrs Paul's two sisters, Henri Paul's three brothers, his best friend Claude Garrec, and his family.
    Around 70 family members and close friends lined up before the grave in the heavily guarded Keryado cemetery.
    Each sprinkled holy water on to the coffin before it was lowered into the ground.
    Fr Theraud asked the 200-strong congregation to pray for Diana, Dodi Fayed and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones. Speaking over Paul's coffin, he said: "To God, every person is unique. His death is unique, as it is unique for his loved ones and friends." Family friend Christian Pitou, in a speech to the congregation, appealed for the Paul family to be allowed space to mourn and to come to terms with their loss. He said that all those gathered in the church would remember the "human quality" of Henri Paul and added: "It is a son, a brother, a nephew, a friend who we are burying today.
    "This ceremony will bring the family and the loved ones of Henri Paul most closely in touch with the sorrow felt by the families of Diana and of Dodi Fayed.
    Mr Pitou's speech on behalf of Mr Paul's family and friends was followed by one of the former security chief's favourite pieces of music, Bahia, song by Veronique Samson.
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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