4 NOVEMBER 2003
Princess Diana's former voice coach has laid claim to a series of video tapes currently being held by police. Peter Settelen made 21 hours of recordings of the princess while working with her in the early 1990s.

The tapes, which were seized during a police raid of Paul Burrell's home, are believed to include sensitive footage of Di speaking about the breakdown of her marriage. Mr Settelen insists that the videos are his, and has demanded that Scotland Yard return them.

He will begin legal proceedings at the High Court on Wednesday in the hope of reclaiming the recordings. Princess Diana's estate has also claimed ownership, however, and a pitched legal battle is expected.

"Negotiations are continuing to establish the ownership of a number of items in our possession," said a Scotland Yard spokesman.

Among the issues worrying Diana's loved-ones is the possibility that the tapes will be screened as part of the proceedings. According to legal sources, the prosecution in Paul Burrell's trial agreed not to use the recordings due to the sensitivity of their content.

Mr Settelen has pledged not to sell the videos if they are returned to him, but this has done little to allay fears of a fresh controversy. "What's in there is potentially explosive," said PR guru Max Clifford. "If the tapes form part of a story which leads to a book and a movie, they are worth millions."