Decision to embalm Diana denied

Maud Morel Coujard, who was a deputy public prosecutor in Paris in 1997, told the Princess's inquest that she was not initially informed of the decision - contrary to claims by Mohamed al Fayed.

Mr al Fayed, whose son Dodi also died in the crash, is convinced the procedure was ordered by MI6 via the British Ambassador to Paris Sir Michael Jay to conceal a pregnancy.

The Harrods owner believes Diana was engaged to Dodi and carrying his baby but was murdered as part of an MI6 plot ordered by the Duke of Edinburgh to prevent the mother of the future King having a Muslim child.

The jury have been told that the Princess's body was treated to prevent decay before it was viewed by the Prince of Wales in Paris on August 31 1997, the day of the crash.

The Princess died on the operating table at 4am that morning after emergency surgery to stop massive internal bleeding from a ruptured blood vessel on her heart.

Mr al Fayed believes the decision to embalm was ordered to conceal a foetus.

Giving evidence by video link from Paris, Madame Coujard confirmed that she had authorised the release of Diana and Dodi's bodies at 8am on August 31 after they had been examined.

Counsel to the inquest Ian Burnett QC asked her if she had been aware on August 31 that the body had been embalmed.

"I don't remember whether I was made aware of that on that particular day, maybe that was later on," she said. Asked if she had any part in the decision she said she had not.