The film sets out to prove a cover-up by the “establishment” over the death of Princess Diana. It has caused outrage in sections of the British press and is not scheduled for a UK release.

Directed by actor Keith Allen and backed by Mohamed al-Fayed, father of Dodi, the film is being screened at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival on Friday.

Mr Allen describes his film as an “inquest into the inquest” of Princess Diana’s death. Of the controversial photo, Mr Allen wrote in the Daily Mail: “The photo is not used in the film for the purpose of shock.

“It is included as evidence, because it shows clearly that, although Diana had been injured in the crash, she was alert and very much alive. I repeat: it is not a picture of a dying woman.”