Di planned James Bond visit
2008-03-13 19:02
London - Princess Diana and boyfriend Dodi Fayed planned to visit the set of the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, but were killed in a car crash the day before, a coroner's jury was told on Thursday.
Film producer Barbara Broccoli said in written testimony that Fayed had telephoned from Paris to arrange a meeting for September 1 1997.
Because Diana's romance with Fayed was on front pages, Broccoli said her greeting to Fayed when he called on August 29 was "Hi Romeo".
She said Fayed, described as a friend since childhood, responded that he had never been so happy in his life.
"We are flying from Paris tomorrow and I have something very important to tell you, but I cannot tell you over the phone," she quoted him as saying.
"My impression at the time was the something very important that Dodi wanted to tell me related to his personal life and his relationship with Diana and not any other matters such as business.
That was my impression at the time and it remains my impression now," Broccoli said in a written statement read to the jury.
She said they had arranged to meet at Pinewood Studios near London, where the film was in production.
Fayed was involved in producing a few films including Chariots of Fire and Breaking Glass.
Broccoli was unable to testify via video-link like many previous witnesses, because she was at work on the new Bond film, Quantum of Solace, more than two hours from Panama City, Panama, court officials said.
- AP