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Diana triumphant after Charles criticised for ‘sick’ Camillagate tape, says book

The book is written by Ken Wharfe, who guarded Diana for more than five years until 1993.

Published
Ken Wharfe has released a book about the five years he spent protecting Princess Diana

Diana, Princess of Wales was left feeling triumphant after the Prince of Wales was criticised over the “Camillagate” tape she branded “sick” for its reported infamous tampon reference.

Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ leaked late night telephone chat gave Diana a boost as she began rebuilding her life after separating publicly from the heir to the throne, according to her former personal protection officer Ken Wharfe.

Diana’s reaction to the 1989 recording – transcribed and widely published by newspapers in 1993 – is revealed by the ex-Met Police officer in his new book Guarding Diana: Protecting The Princess Around The World.

The Princess of Wales with her bodyguard Ken Wharfe (Martin Keene/PA)
The Princess of Wales with her bodyguard Ken Wharfe (Martin Keene/PA)

Mr Wharfe also claims in the book the Princess was upset when Charles refused to join her at India’s iconic Taj Mahal where she was photographed alone, illustrating the rift in their marriage.

Writing in the book, he quotes Diana: “‘Game, set and match,’ she said, clutching to her a copy of the Daily Mirror containing a transcript of the ‘Camillagate’ tape as we talked in her sitting room at Kensington Palace.

The transcript had been published by national newspapers in January 1993, just over a month after the Prince and Princess formally separated and during a period when Diana was attempting to establish herself as a national figure in her own right.

Diana and Camilla Parker-Bowles together in 1980 (PA)
Diana and Camilla Parker-Bowles together in 1980 (PA)

Commenting on the reaction to Charles, following the publication of the tape’s transcript, the former personal protection officer said in the book: “The backlash was savage. Establishment figures normally loyal to future King and country were appalled, and some questioned the Prince’s suitability to rule.”

He went on to say: “Cartoonists lampooned him in the press. One cartoon, featuring him talking dirty to his plants, particularly amused the Princess, who collapsed into fits of giggles on seeing it.”

The previous year, a picture of a forlorn-looking Diana sitting in front of the Taj Mahal mausoleum – Mughal emperor Shah Jahan’s monument of love to his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal – prompted rumours about the state of her marriage during a tour of India.

The Princess of Wales in front of the Taj Mahal (Martin Keene/PA)
The Princess of Wales in front of the Taj Mahal (Martin Keene/PA)

Charles was committed to his own separate itinerary at the time and was in New Delhi, where he delivered the major speech of the tour.

But Mr Wharfe, who guarded Diana for more than five years until 1993, writing in his book, said: “The Princess, who told me she was genuinely upset by her husband’s refusal to join her at the Taj Mahal, had privately decided to drive home the point.”

He added when a TV journalist asked about her thoughts on the monument she turned to him for help and he advised: “Just say it is a healing experience,” and she replied to the broadcaster “It was a fascinating experience – very healing.”

The Princess of Wales' bodyguard Inspector Ken Wharfe  Lewis Whyld/PA)
The Princess of Wales’ bodyguard Inspector Ken Wharfe (Lewis Whyld/PA)

The Princess gave newspapers license to interpret the remark as a comment about her marriage when, asked what she meant, she replied “Work it out for yourself,” Mr Wharfe suggested.

Guarding Diana by Ken Wharf is out now, published by John Blake Publishing.

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