Guarding Diana--Protecting the Princess Around the World by Ken Wharfe

Author:Ken Wharfe [Ken Wharfe and Robert Jobson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786068286
Publisher: John Blake Publishing
Published: 2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

MARCH 1992:

LECH, AUSTRIA

The Princes William and Harry had been plaguing their parents to take them skiing. Harry in particular was desperate to learn and his father had promised to arrange it. To his frustration nothing ever materialised. It did not, however, stop the Prince from making his annual pilgrimage to the Swiss Alps and his favourite resort, Klosters. Charles, being a creature of habit, made it clear that he would do exactly what he wanted, and that if Diana did not care to join him then that was her prerogative. The Princess, however, had made it clear to her husband after the avalanche in Klosters that claimed the life of their friend and equerry, Major Hugh Lindsay, in 1988 that she would never return there.

Privately, Diana had determined that she would answer their sons’ wish. Her good friend Catherine Soames, the former wife of Charles’s long-time friend and Tory minister (and grandson of Sir Winston Churchill), Nicholas ‘Bunter’ Soames, suggested that the exclusive resort of Lech would be the perfect place for William and Harry to learn to ski and it would be a fun holiday for the Princess too. Thrilled, Diana asked Catherine to book it for her, oblivious to (or at least choosing to ignore) the security implications involved.

A few days later she broached the subject with me, knowing that security would be a potential nightmare, given the inevitable press attention her holiday would attract. I told her that I would have to check the resort out as such a visit could have serious security implications. Armed with little information apart from the name of the resort and the hotel she had picked, I made arrangements to travel to Austria.

I immediately made contact with the Chief of Police (protection) in Bludenz, Austria, and a pre-holiday recce was arranged. I then telephoned the Arlberg Hotel and spoke with the manager, Mr Hannes Schneider, but at this stage made no reference to Diana. After booking my flight, I headed for the Austrian mountains. Upon arrival by hire car from Zurich it was soon obvious to me that the location was perfect. The wooden chalets, the mountains dusted with snow and peppered with trees, and the people – protective, discreet and professional – made the ski resort of Lech an ideal royal retreat. For many years it had been the haunt of European and Middle Eastern royal families, but now it was about to be exposed to the ultimate test – Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the most famous and sought-after women in the world. I knew it would not take long for the foreign paparazzi to find us.

I had arranged to meet the Austrian police representatives at the hotel the day after my arrival. Schneider was a most impressive man, as was his entire family. The five-star hotel situated in prime position in the village was a picture postcard example of the very best of absolute skiing luxury. Once we had established the purpose of my visit, we examined

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