Diana and Dodi were just friends, claims her driver

Princess Diana was not pregnant when she died and was only enjoying a 'friendship' with Dodi Fayed, her inquest heard yesterday.

Evidence from experts and those close to her called into question the conspiracy theory that the Diana was murdered by MI6 as she was pregnant with Dodi's child.

An autopsy carried out on the day of her death found no signs of pregnancy, the High Court in London heard.

Meanwhile, her driver Colin Tebbutt dismissed suggestions that the princess was preparing to announce her engagement to Mohamed Al Fayed's son.

He told the hearing Diana was only "enjoying his company" and their relationship did not extend beyond "friendship".

Dr Robert Chapman, the Home Office pathologist who carried out the postmortem examination on Diana, told the court there were no signs she was pregnant, although he conceded that no tests were done to prove conclusively that this was the case.

Significantly, no samples were taken from her womb to test whether she was in the earliest stages of pregnancy.

Dr Chapman explained that he did not see any indications when examining Diana's uterus and ovaries. But he admitted such signs would not necessarily be visible in the first three weeks after conception.

Questioned by Michael Mansfield, QC, acting for Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed, Dr Chapman said he was not aware that this could be an issue in the investigation into her death.

"If that had been an issue at that time I would have approached things differently."

Diana's driver was asked about the strength of her relationship with Dodi. "I think she was enjoying his company," said Mr Tebbutt.

"She never mentioned to me in respect of a forthcoming engagement to Dodi Fayed or a major change in her life.

"In my opinion she was enjoying a friendship, a holiday, and using the Al Fayed organisation's helicopter and aeroplane.

"These facilities made getting in and out of the country a lot easier than Heathrow where press intrusion was virtually guaranteed."

Dodi had been drinking before the crash but Diana did not have any alcohol in her blood, the jury was told.

The court heard details from the postmortem examination carried out in London on August 31, 1997, where both bodies were taken after the car crash in Paris.

Diana had a torn blood vessel to the heart and severe head injuries causing a bleed in the brain.

The inquest faces delays and a rise in costs after an appeal over crucial paparazzi evidence failed.

The coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, had said he would allow statements to be read to the jury from paparazzi chasing-Diana on the night of her death, in their absence, as they have refused to attend.

He has no power to compel foreign witnesses to give evidence and the French government has refused to compel them to do so.

But lawyers for Mohamed Al Fayed said the statements should only be allowed if the photographers turned up.

The Court of Appeal ruled in his favour last week and yesterday the coroner's appeal failed.

As the photographers cannot be compelled to appear, the French police and magistrates who interviewed them must be cross-examined in their place. But the coroner said tracing them could disrupt to the inquest, and he had no power to call them.

One of the photographers who chased Diana, Romuald Rat, was due to appear before the hearing after being summoned by the French authorities.

But the jury was told that, under French law, the photographer cannot be compelled to give evidence in a British court and can refuse to attend today.