The Metropolitan police have been asked to help investigate the crash which killed Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed in 1997.
Royal Coroner Michael Burgess made the request today, when opening an inquest into the death of Princess Diana, who died with Dodi Al Fayed when the car they were travelling in crashed into a tunnel wall in Paris.
This will be the first official British probe into their deaths.
In a statement, the Met confirmed they had been asked to make enquiries into the crash, and that Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens had appointed Commander David Armond to lead the investigation.
"These inquiries will be carried out under the Coroner's direction," the statement said.
Mr Burgess adjourned the Diana inquest today soon after it was opened, and it will not resume until 2005.
A separate inquest into the death of Mr Al Fayed, to be carried out by Mr Burgess in his capacity as Surrey coroner, is to open later today.
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