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Protecting Diana: A Bodyguard's Story
On the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, a royal bodyguard opens up about protecting and befriending the most famous woman in the world, bonding with the young princes—Harry and William—and the details of the night Diana died.
This is the story of an ex-Royal Military Policeman, martial arts champion, and expert in close protection who found his way to the top of his profession, protecting the most famous woman in the world, Princess Diana. Through his assignment as protection for Mohamed and Dodi al-Fayed, he became guard and confidante to the Princess of Wales and the young princes, particularly Harry, and in Protecting Diana he details the weeks leading up to her tragic death.
By chance, Sansum was not in Diana’s car the night of the accident, but it still proved to be a turning point in his own life. His career would continue with some glamorous assignments like guarding Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Pelé, and Sylvester Stallone, but his job was far from easy. He also joined the Royal Military Police, where he faced the deadly Irish Republican Army in the "Bandit Country" of South Armagh, before entering the world of private security and operating in hotspots such as Libya and Somaliland.
Through protection of Princess Diana and his other high-pressure jobs where lives were at stake, Sansum provides a candid account of quiet strength, and how reading a situation is invaluable to getting out of trouble. He sets the example for achieving personal goals, overcoming trauma, and in doing so, honors one of the most outstanding figures of our age.
This is the story of an ex-Royal Military Policeman, martial arts champion, and expert in close protection who found his way to the top of his profession, protecting the most famous woman in the world, Princess Diana. Through his assignment as protection for Mohamed and Dodi al-Fayed, he became guard and confidante to the Princess of Wales and the young princes, particularly Harry, and in Protecting Diana he details the weeks leading up to her tragic death.
By chance, Sansum was not in Diana’s car the night of the accident, but it still proved to be a turning point in his own life. His career would continue with some glamorous assignments like guarding Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Pelé, and Sylvester Stallone, but his job was far from easy. He also joined the Royal Military Police, where he faced the deadly Irish Republican Army in the "Bandit Country" of South Armagh, before entering the world of private security and operating in hotspots such as Libya and Somaliland.
Through protection of Princess Diana and his other high-pressure jobs where lives were at stake, Sansum provides a candid account of quiet strength, and how reading a situation is invaluable to getting out of trouble. He sets the example for achieving personal goals, overcoming trauma, and in doing so, honors one of the most outstanding figures of our age.
272 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2022
26 people are currently reading
981 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 24, 2022
An intersecting perspective from one of the body Guards for Princess Diana during her last few weeks of her life. He paints a sympathetic portrait of a woman absolutely hounded by the piranha press. He offered his own theories about what happened in the tunnel. The rest of the book is about his life: upbringing, career, and challenges.
It’s an interesting read from the viewpoint Of a person hired to protect “important people.” How many times are they ever considered?
Thanks to Edelweiss and Diversion Books for the early read.
It’s an interesting read from the viewpoint Of a person hired to protect “important people.” How many times are they ever considered?
Thanks to Edelweiss and Diversion Books for the early read.
June 18, 2024
I expected more about Diana? As do most readers of this book apparently. But despite the lack of information on her it was still a great read. Learning about this man and his life and family was a good experience.
September 3, 2022
I was a First Read Winner of this book and eager to get started. I figured it would give a detailed look into what it took to protect Diana but honestly he only had contact with her for about 10 days at the most. The rest of the book was about his experience in the Army and as a Bodyguard. It was all very interesting but with Diana at the cover of the book it was a bit misleading for me. So if you expect a book about the Princess you might be disappointed, but if you want to know about Lee Sansum's career this will be the book for you.
May 23, 2023
Judging by the book cover you would think this story is about how, why & where he protected Diana and the stories than went with it…Wrong! Only one or two mentions of Diana in a few sentences. The rest was repeating the same stories of his bodyguard life (not involving Diana!) & his family life. Very disappointed. This was a Goodreads win but not a favorite one. Shows that you can’t judge a book by its cover!
August 24, 2022
I'm currently reading this and my heart is breaking so that it leaks from my eyes. She was the World's Princess, such a beautiful soul. I will update when I get through it...so emotional.
Very informative on his training and career. His "quality" of the time spent with the royals are blessed sweet memories.
I am thankful to you for covering the inquest and including how there was a cover-up. The sole survivor, what a heaviness you have taken on. Diana would not want you to carry that load.
This is a wonderful read about a courageous young man and his co-workers that protected a prominent family, leading to protecting the most beautiful woman to grace this world since Mother Theresa. There will never be another like her. Rest in Paradise sweet Princess Di.
Very informative on his training and career. His "quality" of the time spent with the royals are blessed sweet memories.
I am thankful to you for covering the inquest and including how there was a cover-up. The sole survivor, what a heaviness you have taken on. Diana would not want you to carry that load.
This is a wonderful read about a courageous young man and his co-workers that protected a prominent family, leading to protecting the most beautiful woman to grace this world since Mother Theresa. There will never be another like her. Rest in Paradise sweet Princess Di.
August 21, 2024
Enjoyed his stories, but based on the title I would’ve expected more about his experience as a bodyguard for the royal family (or other clients) rather than his family and personal life. Ended up skipping through quite a bit of this book
May 17, 2025
not about Di
If you want to read about Di and her real protection, this is not the book. This guy only spend a few days protecting Di in the Al Fayed St. Tropez estate just days before her death. Most of the book is about his other bodyguard and security jobs.
If you want to read about Di and her real protection, this is not the book. This guy only spend a few days protecting Di in the Al Fayed St. Tropez estate just days before her death. Most of the book is about his other bodyguard and security jobs.
September 4, 2022
Book a tad deceiving, expected more about his relationship with Lady Di, but he only guarded her a week on Dodi’s private island. Book mostly about his life as a body guard.
November 28, 2022
At a whole lot about princess. Diana. However, if you like martial arts and stories of historic military events, this is a pretty interesting book from his perspective.
January 12, 2023
The book didn’t go into as much detail about Princess Diana as I had hoped, but I found myself really enjoying Lee and his story!
August 4, 2024
Should have a different title.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews