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31st August

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1997 : Diana, Princess of Wales, Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henry Paul are killed.


Princess Diana is killed with her lover Dodi Fayed in a car accident in Paris, sending the world into mourning. She was 36 years old. A police investigation indicated that the driver, who also died in the crash, was intoxicated and likely caused the accident while trying to escape paparazzi photographers. In 1981, Lady Diana Spencer, a young English schoolteacher, married Prince Charles, heir to the British throne. The couple's romance was momentarily the envy of the world, but before long the two grew apart. In 1992, they separated and in 1996 signed a divorce agreement in which Diana retained her title of princess but lost her right to the throne.

2006

Norwegian police announce that they have recovered Edvard Munch's painting The Scream which had originally been stolen in 2004.

2005

In Iraq, more than a 1000 Shia Muslim pilgrims die in a stampede across a bridge in northern Baghdad.

1994

In Northern Ireland, the IRA announces a ceasefire in its armed struggle for a united Ireland. The ceasefire is broken in 1996 with the Docklands bombing in London.

1991

Kyrgyzstan declares independence from the Soviet Union.

1989

In Britain, Buckingham Palace announces the separation of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips.

1986

After colliding with a carrier the Soviet passenger liner Admiral Nakhimov sinks in the Black Sea killing 423 people.

1977

Prime Minister Ian Smith retains power in Rhodesia as his party win all the 50 seats reserved for whites in the 66-seat parliament.

1959

In Britain, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan and American President Dwight Eisenhower hold the first ever live television broadcast from Downing Street.

1957

The Federation of Malaya gains independence from Britain.

1955

In America, the world's first solar-powered automobile, designed by William G. Cobb, is demonstrated at the General Motors Powerama in Chicago.

1935

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Neutrality Act, which expresses the desire of the United States to avoid a conflict which will lead to war.

1897

Thomas Edison receives a patent for his movie camera, the Kinetograph.

1888

In London, Mary Ann Nichols, the first victim of Jack the Ripper, is found mutilated in Buck’s Row in the East End.

1876

Abd-ul-Hamid II becomes sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

1056

The death of Byzantine Empress Theodora by what is thought to be breast cancer.

1944

West Indies cricketer Clive Lloyd.

1932

British entertainer Roy Castle.

1918

American composer Alan Jay Lerner.

1997

Diana. Princess of Wales, Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henry Paul are killed in a car crash in Paris - reportedly while their car was being chased by photographers.

1986

British sculptor Henry Moore, aged 88.

1969

American boxer Rocky Marciano is killed in air crash.

1422

King Henry V of England dies in Vincennes, France struck down with dysentery.