“I’m sorry for hiding it for 27 years” – the only surviving bodyguard in Diana’s car shocks with his confession: “The truth is, Diana was not in that car…” – ABCNEWS

“I’m sorry for hiding it for 27 years” – the only surviving bodyguard in Diana’s car shocks with his confession: “The truth is, Diana was not in that car…”

It is almost 20 years since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The princess died from injuries sustained in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.

She was one of four people in the car when it struck a support pillar at the Pont de L’Alma tunnel while trying to outrun paparazzi.

Princess Diana crash: Where is her bodyguard and sole survivor of the accident, Trevor Rees-Jones, now? | Fox News

Diana survived the crash but died in hospital a few hours later. Her partner, Dodi Fayed, was pronounced dead at the scene, as was the driver, Henri Paul, deputy head of security at the Hotel Ritz where the couple were staying, owned by Mr Fayed’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed.

The only survivor of the crash was Diana’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, who had worked as a private security guard for Mr al-Fayed at Harrods in London before guarding the princess and Mr Fayed.

The bodyguard, now known as Trevor Rees, suffered a number of broken bones and a flattened face that had to be surgically reconstructed. He also spent 10 days in a coma.

Surgeons used 150 pieces of titanium to rebuild his face and used old family photos of him as a guide.

Here is what happened on the night of Diana’s death, in the words of the only survivor of the crash that killed her.

Princess Diana's bodyguard seen for first time in 5 years after surviving Paris car crash - Mirror Online
Mr Rees was born in Germany in 1968 to British Army surgeon Colin Rees and his nurse wife, Gill.

The family – he was the middle of three sons – moved to Oswestry, Shropshire, when he was ten. Mr Rees joined the Combined Cadet Force and after his A-levels joined the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, serving in Northern Ireland.

In 1995, he became a private security guard for Mr al-Fayed, and then went on to guard the princess and Dodi Fayed.

Princess Diana – in her own wordsScroll back up to restore default view.
On August 30, 1997, Diana and Mr Fayed had intended to stay in his father’s hotel in Paris, but found it surrounded by paparazzi.

Mr Paul came up with a plan for the couple to leave via a back door in order to escape photographers and go to Mr Fayed’s apartment near the Champs Elysées.

At the inquest in 2008 in London into the deaths of Diana and Mr Fayed, Mr Rees said he wasn’t pleased with the plan.

‘I wasn’t happy as it meant Dodi would be splitting the security officers, but I went along with it,’ he said.

Bodyguard Trevor Rees details missing four minutes before Princess Diana crash in Paris - NZ Herald
‘I advised Dodi that we could leave from the front of the hotel in two vehicles as the crowd and the press would be pushed back across the road at the front of the hotel.

‘Initially I had been told that Dodi and Diana would travel without security and I said this would not happen, that I would travel in the vehicle with them.’

The inquest jury found that the deaths of Diana and Mr Fayed were caused by the chasing paparazzi and Mr Paul’s dangerous driving – tests carried out after the crash showed the driver of the black Mercedes S280 limo, which hit the pillar at 65mph, was three times over the drink driving limit. None of the four people in the car were wearing seat belts.

Mr Rees had split from his first wife Sue in the months before the crash, and in 2003 he married Ann Scott, a teacher.

Bodyguard survivor of Princess Diana crash has rebuilt his life | Daily Mail Online

He recovered from his injuries and went on to play rugby for a local team and set up a business as a security consultant. He was working in Iraq at the time of the inquest.

Mr Rees published a book in 2000, The Bodyguard’s Story: Diana, The Crash, And The Sole Survivor, although he always maintained he remembered very little about the crash.

Related Posts

Only 3 Minutes Ago… Tragedy Hit: Princess Anne announces a royal family member has PASSED AWAY this morning, prompting Harry and Meghan to rush home: “Sadly, that person was…”

Tragic News: Princess Anne Announces a Royal Family Member Has PASSED AWAY This Morning, Prompting Harry and Meghan to Rush Home: “Sadly, That Person Was…” In a…

HEARTBREAKING — JUST 5 MINUTES AGO IN LONDON! Prince Andrew has been confirmed to

Breaking News: Prince Andrew Embroiled in New Scandal – Will He Lose His Titles? The British Royal Family has been rocked by yet another wave of controversy…

SHOCKING TRAGEDY: Meghan Markle Breaks Down Holding Her Son — “My Harry Has…” — America Stunned.

Shaking the Monarchy: Meghan Markle Breaks Silence with Shocking Announcement About Her Son Meghan Markle has once again captured the world’s attention with a sudden and deeply…

1 MIN AGO: Kate’s Doctors CONFIRM HEARTBREAKING Reality William Feared…

A Beacon of Hope: Buckingham Palace Shares Positive Update on Princess Kate’s Recovery After months of speculation and a period of quiet withdrawal from the public eye,…

1 HOUR AGO! William CRIES as he confirms HEARTBREAKING news about King Charles — Palace gates LOCKED, COUNTRY IN SHOCK: “We are deeply saddened to have to…”

In a twist that has sent shockwaves from the gates of Buckingham Palace to the furthest reaches of the internet, Prince William has officially announced a “Royal…

MEGHAN EXPLODES AS WILLIAM AXES HER KIDS FROM THE THRONE! JUST IN: A “nuclear” Meghan Markle has stormed the Palace in a blind rage after Prince William’s ruthless, cold-blooded demand to rip Archie and Lilibet out of the Line of Succession!

Royal Succession Shaken: Prince William’s Bold Move Erases Meghan’s Children from the Line—A Family and Constitutional Crisis   London, January 2026 — In a move that has sent…