Diana: Closely Guarded Secret
ISBN 9781843170051 | | |
| 941.085092 | ||
Diana: Closely Guarded Secret is a 2002 book by former
Royalty Protection Branch officer Ken Wharfe, written with the assistance of author Robert Jobson.[1]
The book was the first written by a former member of the
Royalty Protection Branch and was subject to some criticism and controversy. A revised and updated edition was published ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
.
Background and synopsis
Wharfe, who was the
Camilla Parker Bowles during the cruise. After fears Diana had jumped overboard Wharfe wrote he eventually discovered her crouching beneath the canvas cover of a lifeboat, sobbing.[2]
Reception
Despite his book becoming a bestseller in several countries, Wharfe was accused of "betrayal" and criticised for alleged inaccuracies and embellishments.
Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police responded that "We are appalled by the revelations of this former protection officer. It would appear that he has breached the unwritten code of confidence between police officers and the people that they protect." Several former colleagues of Wharfe disputed the accuracy of certain passages in the book.[3]
References
- ^ "Princess Diana's secret life". NBC News. 8 December 2003.
- ^ Alleyne, Richard. "Ex-bodyguard's Diana book breaks police code of silence". The Telegraph.
- ^ Alderson, Andrew. "Diana bodyguard's book 'work of fantasist' say ex-colleagues". The Telegraph.