DIANA, Princess of Wales would still be alive today if Mohammed al-Fayed had provided her with more bodyguards, it was claimed yesterday.
Kes Wingfield, one of only two people protecting the princess and her lover, Mr Fayed's son Dodi, said he had pleaded with the Harrods owner for more protection but Mr Fayed snr had refused, leaving their security at a quarter of the ideal strength.
Giving evidence at the inquest into the death of the couple, Mr Wingfield said "we would not be here today" if he had been allowed to provide proper security.
Mr Wingfield added that Diana had been happier than he had ever seen her minutes before she left the Ritz in Paris in the early hours of 31 August, 1997 to begin the journey that would end in her death.
The plan to escape the photographers by sneaking out of the back of the hotel was authorised by Mr Fayed snr, according to Dodi.
But Mr Wingfield said he could not check this and told the inquest Dodi had become more volatile since meeting the princess.
The inquest has already heard how two guards were protecting the couple during their holiday in the south of France and Paris, when there should have been eight.
Asked if he would have done anything differently, Mr Wingfield said he would have put more pressure on Mr Fayed and senior security staff. He said: "We should have insisted throughout the whole trip on having more staff with us."
The full article contains 258 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
