'Diana was on the Pill' claims yacht stewardess who sailed on couple's last trip

The chief stewardess on the superyacht Jonikal said she saw a packet of contraceptive pills among the Princess's belongings while she was tidying up.

Deborah Gribble said some pills were missing from the packet, which was present on both holidays off the French Riviera in August 1997.

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Ms Gribble also told the inquest jury that Dodi Fayed offered her a job as personal assistant to Diana.

She confirmed evidence given yesterday by holistic therapist Myriah Daniels that she was scared by Henri Paul's driving on the day he was killed with Diana and Dodi in the Alma Tunnel in Paris.

Ms Gribble, who was giving evidence at the High Court inquest via a video link from New Zealand where she lives, said Diana and Dodi became lovers on the second cruise.

Jonathan Hough, for the Coroner, asked: "You saw a contraceptive pill packet. Was it a new packet or were there pills in the pack?"

Ms Gribble, speaking via videolink from New Zealand, replied: "Yes, I believe there were pills in the pack."

Ms Gribble agreed it was "apparent" that Diana and Dodi were sleeping together, adding: "They were clearly having a relationship and were a couple."

Dodi's father, Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed, believes that Diana was pregnant and the couple were killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997 as they were about to announce their engagement.

Dodi may also have been planning a future for them together, the inquest heard.

Ms Gribble claimed there had been a "vague" offer to her of a long-term job as an assistant to Dodi and Diana.

Given the increasing press attention, the two bodyguards onboard wanted more help, Ms Gribble also noted.

"They continually complained to me that they did not have enough people and the level of back-up," she said. Dodi found coping with the press attention "quite difficult", she said.

Ms Gribble also recalled "a very hairy drive" into the centre of Paris only days before the fatal crash in which chauffeur Henri Paul was at the wheel.

"It was fast and furious," she told the jury.

"I recall some swerving, changing lanes and that sort of thing."

At one point the Range Rover was driven across a number of lanes, she said.

Yesterday Dodi's holistic healer Myriah Daniels told the inquest that the Range Rover was being driven "far too fast and recklessly" by Mr Paul, who also died in the crash that killed Diana and Dodi.

An uncomfortable atmosphere had shrouded the couple's final cruise amid the growing press attention, the jury heard.

In a statement Ms Gribble said: "I would say that the tension was noticeable throughout the trip and increasing as time wore on.

"By the time we went to Paris there was real tension. It was incredible. It was all so tense.

"Looking back at that afternoon and the journey from the airport in Paris, I'm not surprised that an accident happened as it did later that night."