Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana’s former personal bodyguard, has spoken out about the critical security failures that he believes played a major role in her tragic death in August 1997. Wharfe, who served as Diana’s close protection officer from 1987 to 1993, has long maintained that her fatal crash in Paris could have been avoided if different security decisions had been made.
In his expert opinion, three major lapses in judgment contributed to the devastating accident, all of which, he suggests, could have saved Diana’s life had they been handled differently.
1. A Poor Choice of Driver: Henri Paul Was Unfit to Drive
One of the most crucial mistakes made on the night of August 31, 1997, was the decision to allow Henri Paul, the deputy head of security at the Ritz Paris, to drive Diana and Dodi Fayed from the hotel. Toxicology reports later confirmed that Paul was intoxicated at the time, significantly impairing his ability to drive safely.
Wharfe argues that if bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, the sole survivor of the crash, had been behind the wheel instead, the outcome might have been very different. Unlike Paul, Rees-Jones was a trained security professional accustomed to handling high-pressure situations, and Wharfe believes he would have prioritized safety over speed.
2. Attempting to Evade the Paparazzi Without Police Coordination
Another fatal error was the lack of coordination with local law enforcement in Paris. The decision to speed away from the Ritz in an effort to evade aggressive paparazzi backfired catastrophically, leading to a high-speed chase through the city streets.
Wharfe points out that had the security team worked with the French police to manage the paparazzi presence, the desperate escape attempt—and the eventual collision in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel—could have been avoided. He believes that proper security protocol would have included a carefully planned exit strategy rather than a reckless attempt to flee photographers at high speed.
3. Diana’s Decision to Dismiss Her Scotland Yard Security Team
Perhaps the most significant and regrettable security lapse was Diana’s decision to dismiss her Scotland Yard protection officers in the years leading up to her death. Despite Wharfe’s repeated advice that she should retain her highly trained security detail, Diana chose to rely on private bodyguards, a decision that ultimately left her more vulnerable.
Wharfe speculates that had Queen Elizabeth II intervened and insisted that Diana keep her royal security team, she might have reconsidered. Scotland Yard officers were not only experienced in handling threats, but they also had direct lines of communication with British and foreign security services, which could have ensured better protection for Diana on that fateful night.
Wharfe’s Final Verdict: A Tragedy That Could Have Been Prevented
More than two decades later, Ken Wharfe remains convinced that these avoidable security failures directly contributed to Princess Diana’s untimely death. He continues to highlight the importance of professional security measures for high-profile figures, emphasizing that reckless decisions, inadequate planning, and lack of coordination can have devastating consequences.
Diana’s tragic passing remains one of the most shocking events in modern history, and the lessons from that night still resonate today. As public figures navigate an increasingly dangerous world filled with media scrutiny, security threats, and high-speed chases, Wharfe’s insights serve as a stark reminder of the importance of proper protection.
