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The Bodyguard's Story
This is a first-hand account of the crash that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, its causes and its consequences, by the bodyguard who survived it. As bodyguard to Diana's companion, Dodi Fayed, Trevor Rees-Jones was with the couple as their friendship developed during the weeks before their arrival in Paris, and was in the car with them when it crashed in the Alma tunnel. Trevor survived, but his struggle to recover from his appalling injuries was only the beginning of a much bigger to clear his name, as his employer, owner of Harrods, Mohamed Al Fayed, named Trevor responsible for the crash. In this volume, Trevor tells his own story, including his knowledge of Diana's relationship with Dodi and how Dodi's unpredictability made the bodyguard's job so difficult.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published March 15, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
March 6, 2015
As a demonstration of human fallibility and sheer stupidity, the contents of this book surely reign supreme. Money does not necessarily bring respect, nor quality; media attention does not guarantee happiness; a career as an intellectually-challenged clothes horse may very well be a short one; beware of beauty which lies in the eye of the commercial photographer; and paramount of all, employ only proven experienced professional security who can seamlessly work together as a team to the highest external professional standards. Plan ahead and avoid alcohol if necessary. If you’re travelling, at any speed, in a car fitted with seatbelts WEAR THEM!!! That the occupants of the car did not was the greatest unexplained mystery.
An additional awkwardness of this book is that it is written in the third person; which methodically develops a slight sense of surreal unreality. My sympathies lay primarily with Rees-Jones’ parents; their very real anguish caused by no fault of their own; and HRH The Prince Charles; for his arranged marriage to a daughter from a broken home. The odd error crops up; the late Diana, Princess of Wales was NOT given the pre-defined ceremonial of a “full royal funeral” (p.147), because at the time of her death she was a non-royal divorced woman.
Who wins? Only two parties, as far as I could see: firstly the surgeon Dr Luc Chikhani, who spotted and achieved a truly remarkable and well-deserved career-assuring success in reconstructing Rees-Jones’ face; and secondly, albeit through a desperately tragic and horrific series of events, TRH The Princes William and Harry, who lost a woman whom they alone knew as a wonderful mother; but who have both since gained stability, love and bright futures which they might not have otherwise known.
Much as I personally dislike dwelling on the fallibility and misfortune of others; I did find this book difficult to put down. When I finally did, I felt an overwhelming surge of relief at my own, very ordinary, life lived far, far away from the hungry media machine.
Well worth reading, especially for those who wouldn’t normally see themselves as reading this sort of book.
An additional awkwardness of this book is that it is written in the third person; which methodically develops a slight sense of surreal unreality. My sympathies lay primarily with Rees-Jones’ parents; their very real anguish caused by no fault of their own; and HRH The Prince Charles; for his arranged marriage to a daughter from a broken home. The odd error crops up; the late Diana, Princess of Wales was NOT given the pre-defined ceremonial of a “full royal funeral” (p.147), because at the time of her death she was a non-royal divorced woman.
Who wins? Only two parties, as far as I could see: firstly the surgeon Dr Luc Chikhani, who spotted and achieved a truly remarkable and well-deserved career-assuring success in reconstructing Rees-Jones’ face; and secondly, albeit through a desperately tragic and horrific series of events, TRH The Princes William and Harry, who lost a woman whom they alone knew as a wonderful mother; but who have both since gained stability, love and bright futures which they might not have otherwise known.
Much as I personally dislike dwelling on the fallibility and misfortune of others; I did find this book difficult to put down. When I finally did, I felt an overwhelming surge of relief at my own, very ordinary, life lived far, far away from the hungry media machine.
Well worth reading, especially for those who wouldn’t normally see themselves as reading this sort of book.
June 27, 2011
The Bodyguard's Story is the story of the fatal crash that claimed the life of Princess Diana, the Ritz driver, Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed, told by the only survivor of the crash, Trevor Rees-Jones. It not well written. The author and co-author wrote the story in third person, with Trevor occasionally quoting himself. However, the subject matter was so intriguing that it hardly mattered. I was fascinated not only by the details of Diana's friendship/romance with Dodi, but with Trevor's recovery process. Every bone in Trevor's face was smashed; his wrist was broken, and he had no memory of the crash. Memory has always been a fascinating thing for me, so naturally I was quite drawn to that.
Also fascinating was the weird control that Mohammad Fayed struggled to hold over his empire and his people.
For royal watchers, this is a necessary addition to the collection. It's weakness - that it is not well written - might also be a strength, because one really gets the sense of who Trevor Rees Jones is. Instead of a thinker, he's a doer. Loyal to a fault, gentle, well-mannered, but not given to self reflection.
A solid read.
Also fascinating was the weird control that Mohammad Fayed struggled to hold over his empire and his people.
For royal watchers, this is a necessary addition to the collection. It's weakness - that it is not well written - might also be a strength, because one really gets the sense of who Trevor Rees Jones is. Instead of a thinker, he's a doer. Loyal to a fault, gentle, well-mannered, but not given to self reflection.
A solid read.
August 30, 2017
Trevor Rees-Jones was clinging to life in the same hospital, only a few doors down from Diana's own room. Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed were already gone...just hours before in that horrific crash under Paris's Place de l'Alma tunnel.
It's a time I'll never ever forget.
Growing up with Princess Diana as one of my role models, I'll never forget the call I got from my brother that fateful August 31. I was watching the John Candy film "Cool Runnings" on VHS when my brother called me, "what are you doing?" he asked in a strange tone of voice, "watching a movie" I replied. "Turn it off and turn on the TV" he'd continued, "something big has happened." I remember wondering what could be so urgent when I asked, "what channel is it on." There was a pause on the phone when he replied, "every channel."
As I read Rees-Jones account of his days with Diana and the dramatic events leading up to the crash, I felt as though twenty years had disappeared and it was fresh news again. I felt that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach all over again. That feeling that we'd lost something truly special and that things were never going to be quite the same again.
A compelling and riveting book to read.
It's a time I'll never ever forget.
Growing up with Princess Diana as one of my role models, I'll never forget the call I got from my brother that fateful August 31. I was watching the John Candy film "Cool Runnings" on VHS when my brother called me, "what are you doing?" he asked in a strange tone of voice, "watching a movie" I replied. "Turn it off and turn on the TV" he'd continued, "something big has happened." I remember wondering what could be so urgent when I asked, "what channel is it on." There was a pause on the phone when he replied, "every channel."
As I read Rees-Jones account of his days with Diana and the dramatic events leading up to the crash, I felt as though twenty years had disappeared and it was fresh news again. I felt that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach all over again. That feeling that we'd lost something truly special and that things were never going to be quite the same again.
A compelling and riveting book to read.
March 4, 2013
It is a story worth hearing. Sorry to say it was a poor read. Way too much detail on trivial aspects of the story.
July 12, 2009
This book is written by Trevor Rees-Jones, a bodyguard who survived the Paris car crash that killed Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed. It tells the story of the lead up to the crash, his horrific injuries, the torment of being the sole survivor who did not remember what happened and how he tried to get his life back to normal. I read it to hear a direct account from someone who was there especially when there had been so much publicity, speculation and controversy surrounding events
November 8, 2023
The story of the days leading up to & after the crash which claimed the lives of Princess Diana, Dodi Fayed, & their driver Henri Paul from the only survivor, bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones. Although it's not exactly his story in his words as it is told in third person & the reader hears from others such as Trevor's mother & step-father, & his French lawyer.
The narrative being set in the third person means that the reader feels quite removed from what is happening. Trevor remains quite a remote figure in the book - I felt as if I got to know more about his mother than him. The reader gets the feeling that he really didn't want to write the book & wanted to move on, but perhaps felt under pressure to & that is understandable. 3.5 stars (rounded up) as I did learn some things about the incident I wasn't aware of before reading it.
The narrative being set in the third person means that the reader feels quite removed from what is happening. Trevor remains quite a remote figure in the book - I felt as if I got to know more about his mother than him. The reader gets the feeling that he really didn't want to write the book & wanted to move on, but perhaps felt under pressure to & that is understandable. 3.5 stars (rounded up) as I did learn some things about the incident I wasn't aware of before reading it.
March 10, 2015
Coming across Trevor Rees-Jones’ recollection of one of the most famous accidents in Paris most certainly brought back memories of the event of now almost twenty years ago. It also made me wonder, what happened to all the people involved … although, reading the book made me also hope that the sole survivor and his family got their privacy back and managed to move on with their lives. The paparazzi have so much to answer for – and not just in this particular instance – but their continued claim to ‘just doing their job’ and ‘freedom of the press’ literally lets them get away with murder … not just then but still now.
As I was living in London at the time of the accident and liking what Princess Di had accomplished in her life – predominantly being a loving mother to her children and her extensive charity work – I was floored when she suddenly died in an accident. And not until The Bodyguard’s Story explained just how and why she died, can the remaining doubts finally be laid to rest. There was always the nagging wonder, just what those internal injuries were – especially in the light of a grieving father throwing out all sorts of conspiracy stories – here the reasons are explained and they make perfect sense. Why could this not have been made public at the time? Or was it simply drowned out by sensationalism? All in all, I am so glad, Trevor Rees-Jones decided to write this book and tell his story, despite worries about his, his family’s and friends’ privacy being ‘shaved’ to say the least. This frank account of what happened that day, the weeks leading up to it, and the months of recovery in so many ways and on so many levels is an absolute must-read for anyone who lived through that time and wonders what truly went on. Naturally, this tale is the writer’s own point of view – however, how much closer to the events can you get than by someone who was actually there?
The book also contains a number of photographs – some public, others look a lot more private – and is laid out in descriptive chapters, which have an easy flow to them. The only thing that I found a little off-putting was the style of switching from past to present tense rather abruptly and only explaining after that somebody was thinking this and that and/or doing something at the time. Overall, however, it appears to be an honest narrative of a very private man being caught up in very public goings on, involving the Peoples’ Princess, a very rich foreigner with desperate needs and his son. May they now all rest in peace and let the living go about their own lives once again.
As I was living in London at the time of the accident and liking what Princess Di had accomplished in her life – predominantly being a loving mother to her children and her extensive charity work – I was floored when she suddenly died in an accident. And not until The Bodyguard’s Story explained just how and why she died, can the remaining doubts finally be laid to rest. There was always the nagging wonder, just what those internal injuries were – especially in the light of a grieving father throwing out all sorts of conspiracy stories – here the reasons are explained and they make perfect sense. Why could this not have been made public at the time? Or was it simply drowned out by sensationalism? All in all, I am so glad, Trevor Rees-Jones decided to write this book and tell his story, despite worries about his, his family’s and friends’ privacy being ‘shaved’ to say the least. This frank account of what happened that day, the weeks leading up to it, and the months of recovery in so many ways and on so many levels is an absolute must-read for anyone who lived through that time and wonders what truly went on. Naturally, this tale is the writer’s own point of view – however, how much closer to the events can you get than by someone who was actually there?
The book also contains a number of photographs – some public, others look a lot more private – and is laid out in descriptive chapters, which have an easy flow to them. The only thing that I found a little off-putting was the style of switching from past to present tense rather abruptly and only explaining after that somebody was thinking this and that and/or doing something at the time. Overall, however, it appears to be an honest narrative of a very private man being caught up in very public goings on, involving the Peoples’ Princess, a very rich foreigner with desperate needs and his son. May they now all rest in peace and let the living go about their own lives once again.
August 2, 2022
Muy buen libro
January 1, 2024
Surprisingly I found myself fascinated with this book. I never had much interest in Princess Diana and have had this book on my shelves for several years. These factors make for an interesting read:The responsibilities of a bodyguard to a high-profile celebrity, the behavior of the paparazzi, the horrific crash, the factors that brought about the crash, the medical procedures that were employed on the victims, the strange French judicial system, and the obsession of Dodi’s father for conspiracy and his efforts to manipulate circumstances.
March 16, 2020
Harrowing but inspiring, good read
June 8, 2019
This would be the third time I have read this book. This time it filled a gap whilst I awaited the arrival of another requested title. The first half of the book is quite interesting the second certainly not in my view. The author's role in this whole sorry saga I feel was very overplayed.
January 6, 2017
Trevor Rees-Jones is no writer. But then, he doesn't pretend to be. He's just a "bloke," better at rugby than at writing. His claim to fame: being in the fateful car with Diana and Dodi. Jones wrote the book to 1) make money and 2) counter Mohammad Al Fayed's claims of Trevor's culpability in the accident.
The first part of the book does shed some interesting light on Diana's last days. Trevor describes some of the activities of Diana and Dodi, nothing that there was no evidence of an engagement in the offing (a claim also made by Diana's butler and confidant, Paul Burrell). Trevor also makes Dodi out to be a bit of a dolt, starstruck by Diana and trying desperately -- and sometimes bumblingly -- to impress her. Of Diana, Trevor has nothing but positive words. He notes that she was down-to-earth, friendly and bubbly -- a very normal princess under extraordinary scrutiny that was a nightmare from a bodyguard's perspective.
Of the accident itself, Trevor places blame on Dodi's last-minute decision to install Henri Paul in the driver's seat. Paul was drunk, and although Trevor saw Paul drinking a yellow liquid in the Ritz bar earlier, he claims that he assumed the drink was nothing more than fruit juice. Why didn't Trevor speak up and insist on a licensed chauffeur for the Mercedes that night? Because "the boss" -- Fayed and Dodi -- had spoken and chosen Paul. Trevor has been frustrated in earlier attempts to get additional bodyguards sent to The Jonikal, Fayed's yacht that hosted Diana and Dodi's final trip together, and was rather fed up by the final evening, when Dodi disregarded his concerns about leaving the Ritz.
Who know what would have happened if Trevor has insisted on a different driver, if Dodi hadn't come up with the idea to try a backdoor escape, if Diana had chosen to stay in England instead of jetting off to spend time with Dodi? It would have had a different ending, for sure. It's time to move on.
The first part of the book does shed some interesting light on Diana's last days. Trevor describes some of the activities of Diana and Dodi, nothing that there was no evidence of an engagement in the offing (a claim also made by Diana's butler and confidant, Paul Burrell). Trevor also makes Dodi out to be a bit of a dolt, starstruck by Diana and trying desperately -- and sometimes bumblingly -- to impress her. Of Diana, Trevor has nothing but positive words. He notes that she was down-to-earth, friendly and bubbly -- a very normal princess under extraordinary scrutiny that was a nightmare from a bodyguard's perspective.
Of the accident itself, Trevor places blame on Dodi's last-minute decision to install Henri Paul in the driver's seat. Paul was drunk, and although Trevor saw Paul drinking a yellow liquid in the Ritz bar earlier, he claims that he assumed the drink was nothing more than fruit juice. Why didn't Trevor speak up and insist on a licensed chauffeur for the Mercedes that night? Because "the boss" -- Fayed and Dodi -- had spoken and chosen Paul. Trevor has been frustrated in earlier attempts to get additional bodyguards sent to The Jonikal, Fayed's yacht that hosted Diana and Dodi's final trip together, and was rather fed up by the final evening, when Dodi disregarded his concerns about leaving the Ritz.
Who know what would have happened if Trevor has insisted on a different driver, if Dodi hadn't come up with the idea to try a backdoor escape, if Diana had chosen to stay in England instead of jetting off to spend time with Dodi? It would have had a different ending, for sure. It's time to move on.
July 7, 2012
Pretentious and self-indulgent. Who writes an autobiography in the third person? Every time I read about how humble Trevor (the author/bodyguard) was it came across as disingenuine. Several times the book talked about how Trevor wanted to stay out of the limelight, yet he gave an interview and then wrote a book (he explains why he did these things, but the reasoning appears superficial). The most irritating part was how obvious it was to everyone else that Al Fayed (Dodi's father)was manipuating his employee (Trevor), but that Trevor felt this insane loyalty to Fayed. It makes Trevor look like an idiot.
On a different note, if like me, you were under the impression that he was Diane's bodyguard, you'd be wrong. He was Dodi Fayed's bodyguard, so he (Trevor) spent less than 2 months with the Princess (course it's more than I had!)There was some interesting information in here, so it wasn't a total loss. However, I don't think I can recommend it to anyone, so I'm very glad I didn't go out and purchase it.
On a different note, if like me, you were under the impression that he was Diane's bodyguard, you'd be wrong. He was Dodi Fayed's bodyguard, so he (Trevor) spent less than 2 months with the Princess (course it's more than I had!)There was some interesting information in here, so it wasn't a total loss. However, I don't think I can recommend it to anyone, so I'm very glad I didn't go out and purchase it.
November 20, 2022
I read this book in three Days! This is the story of Princess Diana, Dodi Fayed and Trevor Rees-Jones. Trevor was one of two body guards assigned to protect Dodi and Diana....The story follows the accident in the tunnel in Paris that seriously injured Trevor and killed Dodi and Diana and the driver. It talks about the problems with the driver who was not only drunk but also didn't know how to drive a stick car. Dodi's father was also a Dody and tried to make Trever the problem.....the story was something else...a playboy Dodi is infatuated with Diana, there are 2 guards watching them but Dodi tries all sorts of things to go off on his own....his father after the accident has issues .He want's Trevor to fess up and makes his life miserable...Trevor was fortunate to have had a doctor that very skilled in the surgery he needed and a lawyer who was amazing. Trevor wrote this book to ally the lies being told ....it is a terrific Book!
January 9, 2014
There was a few things that struck me whilst reading this book. Funnily enough the main one being that his lawyers were so intent in getting damages for Trevor yet if he'd given his story to the highest bidder he would have got more than enough to live out his days. That's says a lot about Trevor (or his lawyers). Secondly I have always thought Diana's death wasn't an accident. Yet after reading this book I'm now 50/50. I do not however believe the theory she was bumped off because she was about to marry a Muslim. If that had been so why didn't it happen when she was seeing the Muslim doctor? I also doubt very much she was going to rush into marrying Dodi or anyone for that matter. Anyway I feel for Trevor. For everything he has had to go through. I hope now he is living his life as normally as he possibly can and is happy.
July 8, 2011
Like so many others, I'm intrigued by Princess Di & her life before, during and after Charles.
My heart went out to Trevor throughout the book & I dislike the Fayed family even more after reading how Trevor was treated and coerced.
The ghost writer kept switching the person & tenses especially early in the book which made it difficult to follow at time and frustrating.
I hope no one I care about ever becomes a bodyguard~!
My heart went out to Trevor throughout the book & I dislike the Fayed family even more after reading how Trevor was treated and coerced.
The ghost writer kept switching the person & tenses especially early in the book which made it difficult to follow at time and frustrating.
I hope no one I care about ever becomes a bodyguard~!
January 9, 2008
With the mountain of books out there about this woman, here is one from a man who;
a/ was there
b/ holds some value towards her
An interesting account about that fateful night and indeed about one mans fight to restore his life after that terrible accident.
a/ was there
b/ holds some value towards her
An interesting account about that fateful night and indeed about one mans fight to restore his life after that terrible accident.
July 26, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book. Was easy to follow and gave some good 'in depth' insight on what really happened the night of this tragic accident. Trevor, the bodyguard, went through an awful lot but he kept his head held up high.
March 8, 2021
Interesting to read how bodyguards actually work. The information regarding the last minute changes to arrangements by Dodi and the elite car company’s involvement with the Ritz was all very interesting!
April 26, 2014
I could not finish this book. Who writes their own story in the third person? Too uncomfortable and distracting.
November 9, 2018
Great book, must read!!!
April 12, 2020
Interesting book on Trevor and his life after the car crash... I really felt for him and his family and what Fayed put them through
December 9, 2023
I LOVED THE BOOK He talk about what happen to her,
November 29, 2023
Long before I finished the book I was shocked and saddened. Written in the third person, mostly by what appears to be Rees-Jones' mother, it's a transparent attempt to show what a great bloke her son is and to engender sympathy for him. The publication date was 2000, just three years after Diana's tragic and unnecessary death. By allowing this book to go to publication, Rees-Jones inadvertently admitted what Ken Wharfe, her very competent former Royal Protection Officer said in his 2016 memoirs, that Rees-Jones and his partner were responsible for her death due to gross incompetence, lack of training, and failure to act when it would have been so easy to do so. Their inaction in the Ritz bar says it all.
Rees-Jones went from "bodyguard" of Dodi Fayed to "bodyguard" of both Diana and him for just a few weeks, having previously done little more, by his own admission, than drive what he considered an anonymous Dodi through London, the south of France, and wherever else Fayed wanted to go. I found this meager amount of protection strange since Dodi would have been a prime target for kidnapping and ransom. Dodi's name was not new to me. I had read about Fayed for years as a rich man's son who had financial involvement in some Hollywood productions and escorted beautiful women around the world. If I, thousands of miles away, knew who he was and what he looked like, potential kidnappers knew who he was.
Rees-Jones and his partner saw Henri Paul drinking in the bar after Paul arrived to drive Diana, Dodi, and Rees-Jones to the next stop on one of Dodi's customary impulsive and unnecessary odysseys. They talked to him. The drinking should have raised a red flag. Paul told them he was drinking pineapple juice and they believed him. All it would have taken was for Rees-Jones to say to the bartender, "Give me what he's having." One smell of it would have shown it was a high-alcohol content drink, Pastis. If they were concerned about doing this in front of Paul, there was ample time to talk to the bartender when Paul was outside the bar pacing around the Ritz. Their inaction is baffling but we're repeatedly told how concerned Rees-Jones was about losing his job, another indication that Diana was not at the top of his priority list. He didn't want to rock the boat. He didn't even insist that everyone in the car put seat belts on. Just what did he think his duties were?
Read Ken Wharfe's memoirs. He's absolutely right about where the responsibility for this tragedy lies. Trevor Rees-Jones is now a very rich man, having earned a bundle of money in America as head of security for a large company, a position for which I wonder what his qualifications were. We cannot rewrite history but to make a man with a smashed face into a hero when he failed at his job is a mistake.
Rees-Jones went from "bodyguard" of Dodi Fayed to "bodyguard" of both Diana and him for just a few weeks, having previously done little more, by his own admission, than drive what he considered an anonymous Dodi through London, the south of France, and wherever else Fayed wanted to go. I found this meager amount of protection strange since Dodi would have been a prime target for kidnapping and ransom. Dodi's name was not new to me. I had read about Fayed for years as a rich man's son who had financial involvement in some Hollywood productions and escorted beautiful women around the world. If I, thousands of miles away, knew who he was and what he looked like, potential kidnappers knew who he was.
Rees-Jones and his partner saw Henri Paul drinking in the bar after Paul arrived to drive Diana, Dodi, and Rees-Jones to the next stop on one of Dodi's customary impulsive and unnecessary odysseys. They talked to him. The drinking should have raised a red flag. Paul told them he was drinking pineapple juice and they believed him. All it would have taken was for Rees-Jones to say to the bartender, "Give me what he's having." One smell of it would have shown it was a high-alcohol content drink, Pastis. If they were concerned about doing this in front of Paul, there was ample time to talk to the bartender when Paul was outside the bar pacing around the Ritz. Their inaction is baffling but we're repeatedly told how concerned Rees-Jones was about losing his job, another indication that Diana was not at the top of his priority list. He didn't want to rock the boat. He didn't even insist that everyone in the car put seat belts on. Just what did he think his duties were?
Read Ken Wharfe's memoirs. He's absolutely right about where the responsibility for this tragedy lies. Trevor Rees-Jones is now a very rich man, having earned a bundle of money in America as head of security for a large company, a position for which I wonder what his qualifications were. We cannot rewrite history but to make a man with a smashed face into a hero when he failed at his job is a mistake.
August 3, 2025
I keep thinking a few things as I read: this is very similar to the story of Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis, culture clash, yacht, rich control freak men and all. Why did Diana not have her own bodyguard? Was she unwilling to pay for one or two? The bodyguard in this memoir was guarding Dodi, Diana's then-boyfriend. And he was being paid by Dodi's dad. We now know more about Dodi's dad, the owner of Harrod's, than before, and seems like he wasn't easy for anyone to work with at any time.
Some photos are provided, but many are from the same media people as were complained of in the book and at the time. They had a worth. The obsession with Diana would have died off if she'd lived quietly on a country estate and raised her sons. Instead she was off jet-setting, dating men considered unsuitable and bad influences, etc. And of course, it seems to me, that like Onassis, the family in this case (I'd never heard of them until the death) wanted to show off that they had snared a lovely and famous woman, a member of the royal family. I would be guessing they not only encouraged but worked for the media coverage. Because insecure inadequate men do that.
As to the drunk driver. He was even drunker than I thought. But he wasn't a chauffeur, so presumably had not known he would be driving. He should have said he could not drive. But do you say that to an insecure control freak rich employer? In my book, yes, you say so. They had two perfectly good cars and drivers out front, the boss chose to put everyone in an inadequate car at the back. The driver was probably ordered to speed. You don't put your foot down in a 30mph zone, anyway.
The tragedy stays with me and... yes.
The second half of the book deals with investigations, cases and health issues.
I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review.
Some photos are provided, but many are from the same media people as were complained of in the book and at the time. They had a worth. The obsession with Diana would have died off if she'd lived quietly on a country estate and raised her sons. Instead she was off jet-setting, dating men considered unsuitable and bad influences, etc. And of course, it seems to me, that like Onassis, the family in this case (I'd never heard of them until the death) wanted to show off that they had snared a lovely and famous woman, a member of the royal family. I would be guessing they not only encouraged but worked for the media coverage. Because insecure inadequate men do that.
As to the drunk driver. He was even drunker than I thought. But he wasn't a chauffeur, so presumably had not known he would be driving. He should have said he could not drive. But do you say that to an insecure control freak rich employer? In my book, yes, you say so. They had two perfectly good cars and drivers out front, the boss chose to put everyone in an inadequate car at the back. The driver was probably ordered to speed. You don't put your foot down in a 30mph zone, anyway.
The tragedy stays with me and... yes.
The second half of the book deals with investigations, cases and health issues.
I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review.
July 2, 2021
Definitely an interesting story, especially if you, like me, were an adult when Princess Diana and Dodi al Fayed were killed in a car accident in Paris . There was so much noise from Al Fayed about conspiracies, how the crash was someone's fault, anyone's but his son's. When he tried to lay the blame on the bodyguards, one of them, Trevor Rees-Jones, decided to write this book to put his side of the story. OK, this is not the work of an experienced author, and it might have been tempting for his collaborator, Moira Johnston, to take over. But quite a lot of research seems to have been done, and Trevor's stepdad's diary documented the emotional turmoil the entire family had to endure. I'm glad I have read this book, although I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a "good read", but rather if you have curiosity about that horrible crash back in August 1997.
March 6, 2024
Torn between 3 and 4 stars, so I’ll be generous. Trevor’s side of the story needed to be told, and it’s in the main a really interesting book. This was the most terrible tragedy which should never have happened. The injuries he suffered were horrific, and I’m amazed and pleased he survived and recovered as quickly as he did.
Unfortunately the book is difficult to read because it’s poorly written. It’s written in the third person, with quotes from the first person, and various quotes from different people all over the place. The final part of the book, which focuses on all the legal wrangling, is hard going too.
My rating is for the facts and for Trevor telling his story, rather than the way the book is written.
Unfortunately the book is difficult to read because it’s poorly written. It’s written in the third person, with quotes from the first person, and various quotes from different people all over the place. The final part of the book, which focuses on all the legal wrangling, is hard going too.
My rating is for the facts and for Trevor telling his story, rather than the way the book is written.
July 29, 2024
We all remember where we were when we heard the terrible news about Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed. In The Bodyguard's Story, Trevor Rees-Jones -the only survivor of that fatal crash- recounts his memories working with the most high profile couple in the world, the demands of one of the richest people in the world, Harrods owner Mohammed al Fayed, and the huge media circus which followed. He describes in detail the hours of surgery needed to correct the terrible injuries he sustained during the crash and the effect the events had on him and his family. An inspiring tale of courage, resilience and physical and mental strength, told by one of the bravest men of the 20th century.
August 17, 2018
This was a freebie and a pool read. Not well written, and probably written too soon afterwards. It might be interesting to know his perspective now, more than 20 years later. It confirmed many of my own thoughts on the responsibility of those giving orders re the departure and driving that night, plus it debunked the rumors re the possibility of an engagement. I also had not realised how much time Diana and the boys had spent with the Fayad family in the previous month, they had all holidayed on the yacht and the boys were a similar age to Dodi’s half-siblings.
June 28, 2021
Total guilty pleasure. I did not pay too much attention to the stories surrounding Princess Diana's death. I remember rolling my eyes at Fayed's conspiracy theories and the tabloid coverage, so I was interested to read about Trevor's recovery and what happened to him. I did think he had been wearing his seat belt and that was how he survived, so was surprised to learn he was not. Quick read, though some of the English colloquialisms got tiresome, but this was supposed to be in his words, right? His mother should receive sainthood.
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