Fury of Diana's ex-bodyguard and elite troops at 'nonsense' claim SAS murdered her

 
Handout CCTV footage showing Diana, Princess of Wales with Dodi Fayed inside the Ritz Hotel, which has been shown to the jury at the inquest into her death. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday October 4, 2007. The inquest, presided over by coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker, is continuing today, more than 10 years after the Princess was killed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris on 31 August 1997. See PA story INQUEST Diana. Photo credit should read: Handout/PA Wire

Shock claims that the SAS murdered Princess Diana were today furiously dismissed by former members of the regiment and her own former bodyguards.

The princess’s former personal protection officer Ken Wharfe said there was no evidence she was murdered and questioned why it had taken so long for the claims to be raised in public.

He said: “If this was 30 years ago the police desk sergeant would have thrown out this kind of nonsense before it went too far. But we live in different times. "In truth there have been two exhaustive inquiries and a thorough inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

"There is absolutely no evidence of murder or a conspiracy.”

There was also anger about the claims from former members of the SAS.

One ex-soldier told the Standard: “This is a preposterous claim and highly insulting to the name of the regiment which exists to serve Queen and country.”

He added: “The provenance of this allegation is highly dubious.”

Colonel Tim Collins, a former SAS officer, said: “It’s utter nonsense. This is just wishful thinking on the part of somebody.”

The claims emerged during the recent second trial of the former SAS sniper Danny Nightingale who was convicted of possessing an illegal firearm.

They were contained in a seven page letter written by the parents of the estranged wife of a former SAS member known as “Soldier N,” who was a key witness in the trial.

The letter was originally posted to the commanding officer of the SAS in 2011 and raised concerns about their estranged son-in-law’s allegedly erratic and threatening behaviour.

Photograph taken shortly before the car crash that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, Dodi Fayed and Henri Paul. The image has been shown to the jury at the inquest into the death of the Princess. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday October 3, 2007. The inquest, presided over by coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker, continues today, more than 10 years after the Princess was killed in the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris on 31 August 1997. See PA story INQUEST Diana. Photo credit should read:Handout/PA Wire

The letter also contained allegations about the behaviour of soldier N towards his wife and her family after the couple's marriage collapsed.

The former SAS sergeant is said to have boasted that the SAS had “arranged Princess Diana’s death” and that it had been “covered up.”

The sergeant, who is now serving a custodial sentence for possession of firearms, is also said to have put his hands round his son’s throat mistaking him for a Taliban fighter.

Despite the allegations, soldier N went on to give evidence at Nightingale's retrial last month.

Diana, Princess of Wales, right, and her companion Dodi Fayed, walk on a pontoon in the French Riviera resort of St. Tropez in this Friday, Aug. 22, 1997 file photo. Testimony has ranged far and wide in an extraordinary coroner's inquest, without shedding much light on claims that they were victims of a plot directed by Prince Philip. The coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, is expected to begin his summation Monday, March 31, 2008, which may take several days before it goes to the jury. (AP Photo/Patrick Bar-Nice Matin, File)

Dai Davies, a former head of the Met’s royal protection unit, said the latest claims were mystifying. He said three inquiries had found Diana’s death was “an accident by any definition.”

Mr Wharfe added: “I have always held a consistent view that the princess died in a tragic car crash that could have been avoided if the security officers on the night had done their jobs properly, if Henri Paul had not been drinking and driving and if the foreign photographers had not inflamed the situation by chasing the car."

"I hope no more public money will be spent on this matter. Enough is enough."

Insiders said the claims were passed to the Met by the Royal Military Police (RMP) and it had little choice but to investigate them.

Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul died after their Mercedes crashed in a Paris tunnel after it left the Ritz Hotel on the morning of August 31, 1997.

Diana, mother of William and Harry, was 36 at the time of her death, while Dodi was 42.

Former Met Police Commissioner Lord Stevens's launched the Operation Paget investigation in 2004 at the request of Michael Burgess, the Royal Coroner, who was then overseeing the Diana inquest.

His exhaustive inquiry dismissed numerous conspiracy theories - including claims that Diana was murdered by British spies - and concluded, just like the French investigation in 1999, that Mr Paul was drunk and driving at excessive speed.

Mr Paul had an alcohol level of around 1.74 grams per litre at the time of the crash - about twice the British drink-drive limit.

The black S280 Mercedes was being driven through the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris at around 61mph to 63mph - twice the speed limit for that section of road.

Police said they are not prepared to discuss the matter further, while a royal spokeswoman said there will be no comment on the matter from the Duke of Cambridge or Prince Harry, or from Clarence House.

COMMENTARY: 'Diana wasn't murdered, simple as that'

Robert Jobson, Royal Editor

Diana, Princess of Wales was not murdered. Diana, Princess of Wales died in a tragic accident.

It is plain and as simple as that.

I was a royal correspondent when the Princess was alive and reported on her death.

Yet despite reporting royalty for 20 odds years I have spent more time writing about Diana’s alleged murder than relecting on her brilliant life and charity work that change the lives of so many people for the beter in her life all too short life.

It seems wrong to me that after two exhaustive police investigations and a multi million pound taxpayer funded inquest that conspiracy theories still abound.

The latest “revelation” that the SAS was involved in her death will be dismissed in time – after more taxpayers money is wasted.

Again a conspiracy theory has hijacked Diana’s life’s achievements.

Some of the claims have been down right tasteless.

On twitter I was even, bizarrely accused of being part of some cover-up conspiracy for voicing this view.

No. If there was any evidence to show Diana was murdered like any journalist I would want to expose it.

But there is no evidence at all that she was.

It is time surely that we let the late Princess rest in peace?

Her sons’ Princes William and Harry have said that they accept the findings of the inquest.

It is time we all did, or at least adhered to their wishes.

Diana’s death was due to the driver Henri Paul’s grossly negligent driving under the influence of alcohol (he was NOT drunk but had been drinking), and the chasing foreign photographers who inflamed the situation.

That is the truth.

If you don’t agree with me feel free to send your comments to me on @theroyaleditor

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