The former head of the Metropolitan Police’s Royal Protection claimed Princess Diana would still be alive today if he had been responsible for her safety at the time of her crash.
Dai Davies was appointed Commander of the Operational Unit responsible for the royal protection of the Queen and the Royal Family in 1995 and worked closely with Princess Diana before her death 25 years ago.
Diana’s life ended at the age of 36 after the Mercedes she and boyfriend Dodi Fayed were driving collided with a pillar in Paris’ Alma underpass during a high-speed chase in which the pair were trying to avoid paparazzi.
Speaking to GB News Breakfast this morning, Dai said he had “expressed serious concerns” about the itinerary of Diana’s trip to France and that the princess would still be alive today had his officers in Paris taken care of her.
Appointed Commander of the Operational Unit in 1995, Dai Davies was responsible for the royal protection of HM the Queen and the Royal Family and worked closely with Princess Diana before her death 25 years ago. Speaking to GB News Breakfast this morning, Dai said he had “expressed serious concerns” about the itinerary of Diana’s trip to France
Princess Diana died when the Mercedes she was driving collided at high speed with one of the pillars of a tunnel called the Alma underpass in Paris 25 years ago (pictured in May 1997).
Police are preparing to remove the wreckage of the Mercedes following the crash that killed Princess Diana
“A lot of thoughts go through my mind as we approach the anniversary.
“The first is that this would never have happened if my officers in Paris had taken care of them,” Dai told GB News.
“I wish I could tell you a great deal more about my own thoughts and advice to the royal family before they spent their holiday with the Fayed family, but I can’t.”
Mr Davies also said he had expressed concerns Diana was going to France in the run-up to her death.
In July 1997 Diana was spotted on holiday with Dodi in St Tropez in southern France.
During the trip, she stayed with her sons, William and Harry, at the family’s 30-room mansion, Castle St. Therese.
Mr Davies said he had “expressed serious concerns” about Diana’s trip to France and said she would still be alive if he had been in charge
She is said to have become close to Dodi here, and she stayed at the villa several times throughout the summer before the couple died in Paris.
Mr Davies said he had raised concerns with the royal family through the Queen’s private secretary when Diana accepted an invitation to meet Dodi with Prince Harry and William in the south of France.
“I won’t go into detail because it’s over now, but I had major concerns, one about the itinerary and also what was going on there, but that’s in the story,” he said.
He discussed at length the “tragedy” of the princess’ crash, which he had studied and investigated for years.
“I have to say it would never have happened if seat belts had been worn. I am pleased, hopefully, now that the nonsense of the conspiracy issues has, I hope, been put to bed.
The Princess spent most of the summer with Dodi Fayed in St Tropez, France before heading to Paris at the end of August
“I agree with the head of the French authorities, I agree with the judgment of the judge in France or two judges in France. I testified at the inquest and I support the findings 100 percent.
“From the investigation that there was just no evidence, that nonsense. Everything around it should never have happened. This was an accident.
“I’m sorry we’ve wasted so much public money trying to meet one individual’s needs, but here we are, that’s history. We should all move on.
“I hope the conspiracy nonsense can be ended once and for all and we remember Diana for what she accomplished, what she stood for and how she changed the royal family forever.
“I think Prince William is particularly emphasizing how he was brought up and how he will behave when he is king.”
Reflecting on his time with Princess Diana, Mr Davies said: “Where has 25 years gone? It’s pretty amazing. I have had the privilege and joy of meeting Princess Diana, an amazing woman.
“I don’t think I can think of another woman with such international fame in my life and I’m kind of pleased that we’re commemorating her as her good points far outweighed any derogatory words some people might say.
“I remember when I first took charge in the mid-’90s, she said to me, ‘You poor man, you know what you took on?’
“And I can honestly say, since I’ve been a street cop most of my life, when I took on this particular role, I just didn’t know I was walking into a civil war.
“It was really a civil war between her husband and her.”