Diana verdict is a disaster for Fayed

The inquest verdict that Diana, Princess of Wales and her friend Dodi Fayed were unlawfully killed has been welcomed by her sons, William and Harry. In a statement issued by Clarence House the two princes said they agreed with the verdict and thanked the jurors for the "thorough way in which they have considered the evidence". Both the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker and Diana's bodyguard Trevor Rees Jones - the only person to survive the car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997 - were singled out for praise by the princes.

The marathon 94-day inquest is thought to have cost as much as £8m. Evidence was heard from 278 witnesses. After four days of deliberation, the jury delivered a 9-2 majority verdict: the Princess and Dodi were unlawfully killed by a combination of the "grossly negligent" driving of their chauffeur Henri Paul and the paparazzi who were chasing them through the Alma tunnel.

The princes now hope to draw a line under the conspiracy theories that have raged ever since their mother’s death. A Clarence House spokesperson said: "William and Harry… both share the view that it is time to let their mother rest in peace. The inquest was a painful process which they both accepted had to be embarked upon."

The verdict is a disastrous outcome for Dodi’s father Mohamed Fayed who has spent an estimated £15m trying to prove the couple were murdered in a conspiracy by the British establishment, allegedly led by Prince Philip. The Harrods owner, who was at the High Court to hear the jury’s verdict on Monday, was heard muttering to journalists that "the most important thing is it’s murder".

In a statement read by his spokeswoman Katherine Witty - the former Sky News royal correspondent who interviewed Prince William on his 21st birthday – he said: "I am disappointed. The verdicts will come as a blow to the many millions of people around the world who supported my struggle". The Harrods owner could still challenge the verdict. His press agent Michael Cole indicated that all options were being kept open.

PS The First Post got it right more than £8m ago when the last verdict on Diana's death was issued by Lord Stevens, who spent months establishing that Diana and Dodi's death was a tragic accident...