Prince Charles Was Once Questioned In Private Over A Desperate Note Diana Wrote
Prince Charles became King Charles III on September 8, 2022, after the sad passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. But this was not the first time the British monarch has faced a career-defining moment. In 2005, in fact, the head of Scotland Yard was in a royal palace, about to interview the then-heir to the throne. Charles was the subject of a serious investigation, the details of which had to be kept secret from the outside world. And it all came down to a damning note written by Princess Diana.
The big interview
The man tasked with conducting the interview was John Stevens — now known as Lord Stevens — who led Scotland Yard at the time. It took place on December 6, 2005, not long after Charles had married Camilla Parker-Bowles — now Queen Consort. And it was only years later, in August 2021, that Stevens detailed the whole incident to the media.
A unique situation
Stevens told the Daily Mail newspaper, “The interview was unique. Of course, it was a unique situation. But we approached it as we would any other witness.” There are no prizes for guessing what the interview was in reference to. Scotland Yard was investigating a new theory about the tragic death of Diana and her boyfriend, Dodi al-Fayed.
Operation Paget
You'll remember that news of the car crash that killed Diana in 1997 reverberated all around the world. She was one of the most famous and photographed women on the planet, after all, and her death was deeply shocking. So it was important that a full investigation took place. Scotland Yard assembled a team for that purpose and dubbed the investigation “Operation Paget.” But they probably didn't know it would lead them to an interview with the future king.
Mohamed al-Fayed
Yet one person in particular had a deep interest in Operation Paget. This was Mohamed al-Fayed, the father of Dodi. According to Stevens, Mohamed was kept constantly updated on the team’s findings. But he was also a wild card. He was constantly telling the media he believed his son and the princess weren’t victims of an accident. As Mohamed saw it, they’d been murdered.
