Princess Diana’s Ex-Bodyguard Dies Reflecting on Her Tragic End

Lee Sansum, a former bodyguard to Princess Diana, passed away from a heart attack on May 18, 2025, at home. His wife, Kate Sansum, shared the heartbreaking news, describing him as her “soul mate and hero.”

In his memoir, Protecting Diana: A Bodyguard’s Story, Lee revealed details of Diana’s final days and his regret over not being with her the night she died. He recalled how he lost a draw to join her security team that evening:
“It could have been me in that car,” he said.
He believed the lack of seatbelt use played a key role in the tragedy.

Princess Diana died in a fatal Paris car crash on August 31, 1997. The sole survivor, Trevor Rees-Jones, suffered major injuries but later recovered. Despite claims, he insisted the driver wasn’t drunk.

“She was beautiful, but I had to focus on saving her,” recalled Dr. Mailliez, first on scene.

Today, the memory of Diana’s death and the trauma surrounding it still echo for those who lived through it.