Revealed: Dramatic footage of Diana and Dodi's final tender embrace

CCTV footage revealed at the couple's inquest captures the Princess snuggling in Dodi's arms in the far-from-grand surroundings of the rear service exit of the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

CCTV footage revealed at the couple's inquest captures the Princess with Dodi'in the far-from-grand surroundings of the rear service exit of the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

Around them, aides hurriedly make arrangements to evade a large crowd of paparazzi waiting at the front.

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But the footage also appears to show the hotel's head of security Henri Paul - who was to drive the couple that night - waving at paparazzi just moments before they depart.

Diana playfully salutes Mr Paul as he comes to brief them on arrangements at one point.

The couple stand to one side as he and bodyguard Trevor Rees (formerly known as Rees Jones) await the arrival of a Mercedes to whisk them away through the hotel's back door at 16 minutes and 57 seconds past midnight.

They were just minutes away from the horrendous crash in which they lost their lives.

During a seven-minute wait in the spartan hallway, Diana is shown standing in a distinctive pose, her head tilted slightly to the left, leaning into Dodi who is on her right.

She is seen bending her arm behind her back to clasp Dodi's hand. Later he gently rubs her back.

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The couple were waiting for the Mercedes to take them to Mr Fayed's Paris flat where, his family believe, he was to present Diana with an engagement ring.

But the couple never reached the apartment - within minutes Mr Fayed would be dead, along with Mr Paul, and Diana would be fatally wounded.

London's High Court was shown how, while Diana and Mr Fayed were waiting at the back door, staff were attempting to fool the hordes of paparazzi at the main entrance with a two-car decoy convoy.

In the event, a handful of photographers realised what was happening and snapped the couple leaving for the last time.

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The jury watched grainy footage of Diana and Mr Fayed emerging from the back door, running past some roadworks and across the road into the waiting car.

Diana is seen to raise her hand to cover her face as she gets in.

But despite their efforts to leave in secret, the car was surrounded by photographers immediately and pursued by scooters and a 4x4 as it pulled away.

The ill-fated plan to avoid the paparazzi outside had been hatched by Mr Paul, the bodyguards and hotel staff while the couple dined in the hotel's Imperial Suite.

Extensive footage shows Mr Paul walking back and forth between the main hallway - where he speaks to night security manager Francois Tendil and night duty manager Thierry Rocher - and the small first-floor foyer outside the suite, where bodyguards Mr Rees and Kes Wingfield are waiting.

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Inspector Paul Carpenter of the Metropolitan Police presented footage to the jury showing Paul making no fewer than five trips outside to where the paparazzi were gathering, between 10.30pm and the time the couple leave almost two hours later.

He is seen repeatedly walking up to the growing crowd, puffing on a series of cigarillos before returning inside the hotel.

At one stage a "dummy run" is carried out, with a Range Rover and Mercedes making off from the front of the hotel - prompting a media scramble - only to return after a single lap of the square.

Video footage shot by an Australian tourist shown to the jury captures the ensuing scrum, as photographers hare off on mopeds after the two cars.

Following a series of discussions, Mr Rees and Mr Wingfield are later seen walking the route to the back door which the Princess and Dodi would take minutes later.

Just after six minutes past midnight, the couple are seen emerging from the suite to make the journey to the back door, passing along a corridor and going into a service lift before arriving at the back.

After the jury was shown a high-tech virtual reality recreation of the scene of the crash, which will be used throughout the inquest, counsel to the inquest Ian Burnett told the coroner that proceedings were completed for the week.

He said: "That completes the scene-setting evidence."

The coroner replied: "So we are slightly ahead. Mr Burnett raised a laugh from the assembled barristers when he replied: "Those are words I hope to hear and more over the course of the coming weeks."

The coroner then called the jury bailiffs and those who will be escorting the panel to Paris over the weekend forward to be sworn.

He explained: "In view of the unusual nature of the visit, I think it is appropriate to have not only all the bailiffs sworn but those others who will be involved with the journey on the plane."

The 11 jurors will be travelling on a special jet to Paris, where the court will reassemble in the open air as they visit the scene of the crash and other places of significance on Monday and Tuesday.

After a small group stepped forward and swore to preserve the integrity of the jury, the coroner asked whether there was anything else which needed to be done.

On being told that there was not, he rose, commenting: "See you in Paris."