Ken Wharfe, who served as Princess Diana’s dedicated bodyguard, has shared insights into three critical security lapses that he believes led to her tragic death.
It’s almost unimaginable that nearly 30 years have passed since the world lost Princess Diana. An emblem of inspiration and humanitarianism, her passing marked a profound loss not only for the globe but also for her young sons who lost their mother too soon. One can’t help but envision who she might have become, how she would look now, and the significant impact she could have made.
The Unfortunate Choice of Driver
Ken Wharfe looks back on his time with the ‘People’s Princess’ over the six years he served her with fondness and reflection.
During his tenure from 1987 to 1993 as her personal protection officer, Wharfe is convinced that Princess Diana might still be with us had different choices been made on that fateful night in August of 1997.
Among the most critical decisions was the selection of the driver. On that night, Diana was accompanied by her then-boyfriend, the Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed, the head of security at the Ritz, Henri Paul, who was driving, and Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, who was the only person to survive the crash.
Tragically, Paul had consumed alcohol before driving and was speeding dangerously fast when the car crashed into a pillar in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Wharfe feels sure that if there was a different driver, Diana might have survived the ordeal.
An Ill-Fated Escape Plan from Paparazzi
The evening began with the intention of a short journey from the Ritz Hotel to a nearby apartment on the Champs-Elysées. A key mistake of that night was the poor communication and cooperation—or rather the complete lack thereof—with local Parisian police regarding their travel plans.
Wharfe suggests that had Dodi and Diana’s security team worked alongside local authorities instead of isolating themselves and viewing the press as adversaries, the tragic events might have been entirely preventable.
To dodge the press, a diversion strategy was set into motion. A Range Rover, staged at the front of the Ritz with Dodi’s regular driver, was used as a decoy, allowing Diana and Dodi to quietly slip away through the back in a black armored Mercedes. Unfortunately, the driver Henri Paul, who was found to be significantly over the alcohol limit, was summoned to take the wheel. The subsequent high-speed pursuit led to disaster as the Mercedes crashed at nearly 60 miles per hour.
Absence of a Trusted Security Team
Wharfe firmly believes that Diana’s decision to dismiss her Scotland Yard protection team was a grave, avoidable error. Following her separation from Prince Charles in 1992, she chose to relinquish her royal security detail.
Despite advice to maintain her team, she dismissed them entirely a mere four weeks later. Wharfe asserts that, had the Queen insisted on retaining the security service, Diana would most likely have complied.
The unexpected passing of Diana sent shockwaves across the world, dominating headlines for an extended period. Her funeral became a monumental moment of collective mourning, while the chilling imagery of the wrecked car remained etched in the world’s memory.
As over two decades have drifted by, debates continue regarding what could have saved Diana’s life. For Ken Wharfe, however, the truth appears stark: three significant missteps on that fateful night sealed her tragic destiny. It’s a point that still evokes contemplation and sorrow. Do you find yourself in agreement with his perspective?
