Princess Diana wouldn’t have died had she had a better security team with her at the time of the Paris crash, her former bodyguard has claimed.

Admirers of the royal marked 27 years since her passing on Saturday after she was killed in the 1997 smash while escaping paparazzi with partner Dodi Fayed. Mr Fayed, 42, and driver Henri Paul both also died in the collision, while the filmmaker’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones survived.

It later emerged how Ritz security chief Mr Paul had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and was driving at a high speed when he lost control in the Pont de l’Alma underpass, striking a pillar. Now one of Diana’s former security officers has spoken out, sharing his concerns the royal could still be alive today had three things been different.

Prince William and Prince Harry ‘kept apart by family’ as they reunite at funeral

Princess Diana pictured with Ken Wharfe while on a visit to Manchester in 1991 ( 
Image:
Mirrorpix)
Ken Wharfe served as Diana’s personal protection officer between 1987 and 1993 when the mother faced intense scrutiny over the breakdown of her marriage to the then-Prince Charles and subsequent relationships. Ken insists the tragedy would never have happened had Mr Rees-Jones offered to drive instead of Mr Paul.

“The one thing that would have saved Diana’s life that night would have been if they’d kicked out the chauffeur and for Rees-Jones to have driven,” he told The Sun. The ex-bodyguard claims this never happened due to Dodi being a “difficult” employer meaning staff could not tell him what to do.

Princess Diana and bodyguard Trevor Rees Jones with driver Henri Paul and Dodi Al Fayed on the night she died ( 
Image:
PA)
Had Rees-Jones taken command and booted Mr Paul from the driver’s seat, the crash would likely have never happened, he added. The couple had tried to divert press on the night of the smash, leaving Dodi’s car with his usual driver parked outside the Ritz’s main entrance before sneaking out the back.

But Ken believes had they not tried to “goad” media, this may also have changed the outcome on the night of August 30, 1997. He said that, because of their tactic, local police were not involved. He also believes that, had Diana kept Scotland Yard security following the separation from Charles, this may also have affected the tragic outcome.

Ken Wharfe worked for Diana as a protection officer for six years ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Don’t Miss

Huge tributes to Princess Diana laid outside palace on 27th anniversary of her death

Prince William and Prince Harry ‘kept apart by family’ as they reunite at funeral
Prince William ‘furious’ after Queen gave Harry permission to break wedding outfit rule
Little-known royal who knew all about being a ‘Spare’ long before Prince Harry

Wharfe stepped down in 1993 but says Diana was not urged to keep her protection squad. “Had the Queen insisted that Diana retain her Scotland Yard security, Diana would have accepted it,” he said.

He says he had told Diana “you’re going to need us [Scotland Yard]” in a private meeting at Kensington Palace three weeks after he resigned, telling her “you’re always going to be Princess of Wales”. Despite his warning, Diana later abandoned her security four weeks later.