RIP Princess Diana: (July 1, 1961 – August 31, 1997)

In this blog post, I will briefly discuss Princess Diana’s fatal car crash, which occurred on August 31, 1997, in Paris, and compare it to the near-fatal accident with Prince Harry and Megan Markel. Princess Diana was one of the most famous and beloved women in the world, and her death shocked and saddened millions of people.

Princess Diana had spent more than a week with her new lover, Dodi Fayed, a film producer and the son of billionaire Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, yachting around the Mediterranean. They arrived in Paris on August 30, after flying in on a private jet from Sardinia. They planned to stay the night at the Ritz Paris, owned by Fayed’s father, before traveling to London the next day. However, their plans were disrupted by the presence of paparazzi, who followed them everywhere they went. The couple decided to leave the hotel around midnight and head to Fayed’s apartment near the Arc de Triomphe. They got into a Mercedes-Benz driven by Henri Paul, the deputy head of security at the Ritz, who was later found to have been three times over the drunk driving limit. Their bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was also in the car. The car sped away from the hotel, trying to evade the pursuing photographers. It entered the Pont de L’Alma tunnel, where it crashed into a pillar at high speed. Paul and Fayed were killed instantly. Rees-Jones survived with severe injuries. Princess Diana was still alive but trapped in the wreckage.

The first responders arrived at the scene within minutes. They tried to free Princess Diana from the car and stabilize her condition. She was conscious and reportedly said “Oh my God” and “Leave me alone”. She was taken out of the car after about an hour and rushed to a nearby hospital. At the hospital, doctors performed surgery to stop the internal bleeding caused by a ruptured pulmonary vein. However, despite their efforts, Princess Diana died at 4:00 am local time. She was 36 years old. Her death was announced to the world by a spokesman for Buckingham Palace. The news sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from people of all walks of life. Her funeral was held on September 6 at Westminster Abbey and watched by an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide. Princess Diana’s death was a tragic event that marked the end of an era. She was a humanitarian, a style icon, a royal rebel, and a loving mother. She left behind two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who have continued her legacy of compassion and service.

Another Car Chase 26 Years Later

If you are following the news, you might have heard about the shocking incident that happened on Tuesday night, May 16th, that involved Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in New York City. The couple was in town to attend an awards ceremony but ended up being chased by a horde of paparazzi for more than two hours, and at least 70 blocks, putting their lives and the lives of others at risk. Here is what you need to know about this dangerous car chase and its aftermath, and why it’s similar to the 1997 car chase involving Princess Diana: Prince Harry’s mother.

The car chase started after Prince Harry and Meghan left the Women of Vision Awards at the Ziegfeld Ballroom on West 54th St. Tuesday night, where Meghan was honored for her advocacy work for women and girls. According to their security, they were followed by about a dozen vehicles, which included cars, scooters, and bicycles, that drove recklessly and ran red lights. The security team said they had to switch cars more than once to evade the paparazzi and took a long and winding route from 23rd Street to 96th Street. They also mentioned that at one point, the paparazzi blocked their limousine and started taking pictures until they managed to get out. The situation was described as “chaotic”, “near catastrophic” and “fatal” and said they were concerned not only for the couple but also for the public.

The couple eventually reached the 19th police precinct on East 67th Street, where they received assistance from the New York Police Department (NYPD). The NYPD confirmed that they helped the couple’s private security team and that there were no reported collisions, injuries, or arrests. The couple’s spokesperson said that they were “scared, exhausted, but relieved” after the incident and that they were grateful for the support of the NYPD.

This car chase has sparked outrage and sympathy for Prince Harry and Meghan, who have been vocal about their struggles with media intrusion and harassment. Many people have drawn parallels to the tragic car crash that lead to Princess Diana’s death. Although similar, we must thank God that Prince Harry and Megan Markel’s incident did not end in another tragic death. But one must ask who should be held accountable and what potential consequences should there be.

For years, the so call Paparazzi or “Intruders with a camera” have been relentlessly bent on getting the perfect shot through the lens of other people’s, mainly celebrities’ lives. The paparazzi are a group of freelance photographers who follow famous people around and take candid pictures of them, often in compromising or private situations. They sell their photos to magazines, newspapers, websites, and other media outlets that are interested in celebrity gossip and scandals. The paparazzi have been around since the early days of Hollywood, but they became more aggressive and invasive in the 1990s and 2000s, with the rise of tabloid journalism and the internet. They seem to have low regard for other people’s personal space and give no second thought to the potential dangers of the lives around them.

Reasons why the paparazzi pursue celebrities so relentlessly are:

• The demand for celebrity news and images is high and constant. Many people are fascinated by the lives of the rich and famous and want to see them in their everyday moments, whether they are shopping, dining, dating, or parenting. The media outlets that cater to this curiosity will pay a lot of money for exclusive or sensational photos of celebrities, which motivates the paparazzi to chase them and compete in pursuit of the best or the most invasive photo.
• The paparazzi have a sense of entitlement and justification for their actions. They claim that they are doing their job as journalists and that they have a right to photograph anyone who is in a public place. They also argue that celebrities have given up their privacy by choosing to be in the public eye and that they owe it to their fans to let them see their real selves. Some paparazzi even believe that they are helping celebrities by keeping them relevant and popular.
• The paparazzi have a thrill-seeking and adrenaline-driven personality. They enjoy the challenge and excitement of hunting down celebrities and capturing rare or scandalous moments. They also enjoy the fame and recognition that comes with being a successful paparazzo. They often form a subculture of their own, with their own rules, codes, and networks. They may also have a personal interest or obsession with certain celebrities and feel a connection or rivalry with them.

Who should be held accountable for the Prince Harry and Megan Markel chase? and what potential consequences should there be?

This is a question that many people have been asking since the couple announced their decision to step back from their royal duties and move to the US. The chase refers to the intense media scrutiny and public criticism that they faced, especially Megan Markel, who is biracial and a former actress. Some have blamed the British tabloids for their relentless and often negative coverage of the couple, while others have pointed fingers at the royal family for not supporting them enough. Some have even suggested that the couple themselves are responsible for their own troubles, as they chose to leave their privileged position and seek a more private life.

There is no easy answer to this question, as different perspectives may have different opinions on who’s accountable and what consequences should follow. However, one possible way to approach this issue is to consider the ethical principles of respect, fairness, and responsibility. Respect means treating others with dignity and honoring their choices. Fairness means ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities and rights. Responsibility means being accountable for one’s actions and their impact on others.
Using these principles, how can we evaluate the actions and behaviors of the different parties involved in the chase? For example, we can ask:

• Did the media respect the couple’s privacy and personal lives?
• Did the royal family treat the couple fairly and support their decision?
• Did the couple act responsibly and communicate their intentions clearly?

Depending on how we answer these questions, we may come to different conclusions about who should be held accountable and what potential consequences there should be. For instance, some may argue that for one, the media should be held accountable for violating the couple’s privacy and spreading false or harmful information. The potential consequences could include legal action, public apology, or stricter regulation. Second, the royal family should be held accountable for not protecting the couple from harassment and discrimination. The potential consequences could include reconciliation, reform, or loss of public support. Third, the couple should be held accountable for abandoning their duties and disappointing their fans. The potential consequences could include criticism, isolation, or reduced income. Last, but not least, the drivers violated the laws of the land by recklessly speeding and passing red lights for at least 70 blocks through New York traffic. But of course, these are not the only possible arguments or outcomes. There may be other factors or perspectives that could influence our judgment. Ultimately, the question of accountability and consequences is a complex and controversial one that requires careful analysis and respectful dialogue. I’m just thankful that Prince Harry, Megan and everyone involved are alright and HISTORY DID NOT REPEAT itself after all.

That’s Cathy’s Perspective.

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