This was a recording of a 1989 telephone conversation between Diana and James Gilbey, her close friend, in which the latter referred to the Princess of Wales as ‘Squidgy’.

The team also hopes to question Diana’s sister Sarah McCorquodale and Paul Burrell, her former butler, over the ‘crown jewels’ — a missing mahogany box supposedly containing sensitive documents, including letters sent to the Princess of Wales by Prince Philip.

According to The Sunday Times, the total cost of the inquest could top ten million pounds. These include a jury protection service, with daily police escorts to the Royal Courts of Justice in London; video links for French witnesses; and a two-day trip to Paris by the jury — altogether 50 people connected with the inquests will be flown over and given hotel accommodation.

The inquests into Pricess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed could cost over 10 million pounds including more than 2.7 million pounds in legal fees.

The inquests are expected to last at least six months and and will engage the services of seven Queen’s Counsels and more than a dozen other barristers and solicitors, The Sunday Times reported today.