Princess Diana"s death: Bodyguard reveals three preventable factors

Princess Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris on August 30, 1997, while attempting to evade paparazzi with her partner Dodi Fayed. The crash also claimed the lives of Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul, who was later found to have been drinking and driving at high speeds. Trevor Rees-Jones, the bodyguard, survived the incident. Ken Wharfe, Diana's former bodyguard, has since expressed that the accident could have been avoided under different circumstances. Wharfe believes that had Rees-Jones taken the wheel instead of Paul, the outcome might have been different. He noted that Dodi Fayed's difficult nature as an employer prevented staff from making crucial decisions, such as replacing the driver. Additionally, the couple's strategy to mislead the press by leaving the Ritz through a back exit may have contributed to the lack of police involvement that night, further complicating the situation. Wharfe also pointed out that Diana's decision to forgo her Scotland Yard security detail after her separation from Prince Charles could have played a significant role in the events leading to the crash. He stated that had the Queen insisted on her retaining this protection, Diana would have likely complied. As admirers remember Diana on the anniversary of her death, Wharfe's insights highlight the preventable factors surrounding the tragedy, suggesting that different choices by those involved could have altered the course of that fateful night.