Diana inquest opens with accusations

By Paul Majendie and Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) - The inquest into Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash 10 years ago opened on Tuesday with accusations that the British royal family ordered her death.

Mohamed al-Fayed, whose son Dodi also died in the crash after a brief but high-profile summer romance with Diana, said the couple were killed on the orders of Queen Elizabeth's husband, Diana's former father-in-law.

In a string of accusations listed in court by the judge, the owner of London's luxury Harrods store said the royal family could not bear the idea of Diana marrying a Muslim.

Major investigations by French and British police have concluded the deaths were a tragic accident caused by a speeding chauffeur, who was found to be drunk. They both have rejected Fayed's conspiracy theories.

Lord Justice Scott Baker said Fayed alleged in a prepared witness statement that the royal family "could not accept that an Egyptian Muslim could eventually be stepfather to the future King of England (Diana's elder son Prince William)".

"It's his belief that a decision was taken to kill both Diana and Dodi. He places Prince Philip at the heart of the conspiracy."

The judge told the jury: "You will have to listen carefully to the witnesses you hear to see whether there is any evidence to support this assertion."

Diana, 36, Dodi al-Fayed, 42, and chauffeur Henri Paul were killed when their Mercedes car crashed in a road tunnel as they sped away from the Ritz Hotel in Paris, pursued by paparazzi.

In Strasbourg, the European Court of Human Rights rejected Fayed's complaint that there were several shortcomings in the French investigation, saying there was no "impediment preventing the circumstances of the death of the applicant's son from being elucidated".

"MILLIONS OF WORDS"

Fayed said Diana was pregnant with Dodi's child and that the couple were planning to announce their engagement.

The Egyptian-born tycoon alleged that U.S., French and British security services had bugged Diana's phone and knew about the couple's plans.

He suggested the couple were killed after a blinding flash from a stun gun distracted Paul, who crashed at speed after their limousine was dealt a glancing blow by a white Fiat Uno.

He also said Diana's body was hastily embalmed to disguise the fact that she was pregnant.

The judge said Diana had spoken to both her lawyer and butler about her fears of being killed in a car crash.