The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor [Mass Market Paperback]

Trevor Rees-Jones (Author), Moira Johnston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000

From the point of view of Trevor Rees-Jones, here is a gripping account of the weeks that led up to the crash, the relationship between Dodi and Princess Diana, and the fateful, chaotic events of that tragic night. In the end, it is a profoundly moving story of a young man who entered a realm of fame and glamour, little realizing it would almost cost him his life and cast a dark shadow of suspicion over him...and that he would emerge from all of it with his dignity and honor intact.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

"Trevor Rees-Jones was born in 1968. A former soldier, he then joined the security staff of Mohamed Al Fayed, the controversial Egyptian multi-millionaire businessman and owner of Harrod's, and worked as personal bodyguard to Fayed's son Dodi. In the summer of 1997, as a friendship developed between Dodi and Diana, Princess of Wales, Trevor found himself a first-hand witness to the events leading up to the crash that would kill them both on August 31 in Paris.

Following his discharge from the hospital, Trevor returned to the UK in October 1997, and was an inside party to the French investigation that followed. He resigned from his job with Fayed the following April, and now lives in Oswestry, Shropshire." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446610046
• ISBN-13: 978-0446610049
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,929,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story About A Remarkable Young Man, Not Tabloid Nonsense, March 20, 2000

By 

taking a rest - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor (Hardcover)

This is a straightforward explanation of what Mr. Trevor Rees-Jones experienced, and continues to cope with, to this day. This is not a "Diana" book. While she is a victim in this tragic accident, and the stupidity that lead to it, she is portrayed as a human being. Mr. Rees-Jones shares his time around her and her sons, and portrays Princess Diana as a person and Mother, not as the star of tabloid circus fiction. He was NEVER her bodyguard. He worked for and guarded Mr. Fayed the son, and by extension the Princess, and her Sons.

I picked up this book as I remember that date as the day that took two special people from us, who were also great friends of each other, Mother Teresa and Princess Diana.

This book is written from the perspective of Mr. Rees-Jones with contributions from family, friends and co-workers when he was not conscious to narrate events himself. This is his story, of a remarkable man who recovered from horrendous physical damage, and contends with the accident that will haunt him for life. He and his Family share what it was like for them, how it nearly tore the Family apart, how it may have contributed to the death of his Nain (Grandmother). His story is one of courage and of his personal values and integrity that he never lost, when nearly everyone around him were themselves for sale, regardless of whether they knew anything, or just spouted fiction.

The book gives insight into the French Legal System, emergency medical practices, and the remarkable young reconstructive surgeon who gave this man back his face and his life.

The only time sensationalism appears is when it is condemned. Photographers who literally got in the way of rescue workers so as to get their pictures of the dead and dying. The ridiculous stories that were touted as fact by even the most "respectable" of news agencies.

This is also about a Father who lost his Son, and still will not accept what happened. Today he filed a suit to prevent the Author from benefiting financially from this book. The Author was loyal to Mr. Fayed long after 99% of people would have told him where to get off.

Nothing less than a conspiracy of Oliver Stone proportions will satisfy Mr. Fayed the Father. Somewhere I hope he knows that an extremely incapacitated employee of his, who drove a limousine that was owned by a company Mr. Fayed is Co-Owner of, who was not licensed to drive the limousine, was at the wheel when the horrific crash occured.

I also believe the photographers contributed to the accident. What I still don't understand, is how many pictures were needed of this woman, 1 million 2 million? Decide for yourself, but I believe no motorcycles, no white Fiat, no deaths.

A tragic accident brought about by a series of judgement errors. And they were not the errors of the security provided by Mr. Trevor Rees-Jones or his Partner Kez.

Very good book, very sad story.

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It WAS an accident - now let her rest in peace, March 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor (Hardcover)

Interesting book. I was devastated at Diana's death, having followed her life since 1980, but I cannot believe the number of Diana admirers who just will not put her death behind them and move on. Trevor Rees Jones clearly outlines the botched Fayed security job not only that fateful night but also throughout her entire involvement with Dodi Fayed. If a car is driven at three times the legal speed limit through a tunnel with a curved entrance and no crash barriers by a drunk driver and none of the occupants are wearing seatbelts, I don't care how famous the occupants are, it seems pretty obvious that this is a recipe for disaster. Diana is gone and as sad as it is, believing Al Fayed's conspiracy theories only does damage to people like Trevor Rees Jones and Prince's William and Harry. I hope Rees Jones' book will be the final word and we can now all let her rest in peace.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting reading, March 26, 2000

By 

Cyberlaw "deal" (ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor (Hardcover)

The bodyguard Trevor strikes me as having integrity in the way he dealt with this most famous event. I believe he is vindicated, in this honest account, from those who sought to twist the facts to propagate conspiracy theories. Some people just cannot accept the simple truth. Read for yourself and decide. It's well worth the read. May he now go back into obscurity and live out his life normally.