Diana: Closely Guarded Secret

By: Ken Wharfe

Narrated by: Ken Wharfe

Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Diana: Closely Guarded Secret became a best seller on both sides of the Atlantic.

As a member of Scotland Yard's elite Royalty Protection Department, Inspector Ken Wharfe was personal protection officer - in other words, bodyguard - to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, during the years that saw the final breakdown of her marriage and her separation from Prince Charles.

In that time he became a close friend and trusted confidant who shared her most private moments. His intimate firsthand account provides an affectionate, if not always uncritical, insight into this complex, troubled, but ultimately deeply fascinating woman.

Packed with anecdotes - and now revised with a new chapter containing material about Diana's so-called 'rock', her butler, Paul Burrell - this extraordinary account is the most intimate portrait of Diana to date and a record of the events that unfolded around her during the most crucial period of her life.

©2004 Right Recordings (P)2016 Right Recordings

Insider knowledge

Ken Wharfe was The Princess of Wales’ protect ion officer. His insider knowledge of the goings-on in the years before and after Diana’s death make for essential reading for those interested. I thoroughly appreciated Mr. Wharfe’s recounting.

Ending of last leg of the audiobook

The audio skipped and made certain things being said inaudible. Disappointed at the end. Refund.

Wonderfully accurate story

I enjoyed this book very much! Most stories about the princess tend to be biased in one way or another. This seemed to be a true personal story by a man that truly knew who Diana was as a person...good and bad. He didn’t sugar coat anything. He instead helped me to see her for the sad, broken, kind, loving, generous woman that she was. I love that Ken Wharfe himself narrated. It was as if he were sitting there beside me replaying all these memories he had of Princess Diana while we drank tea.

Excellent

Credible content delivered by excellent narration. The author / narrator speaks from direct experience with great clarity, respect and professionalism.

Diana: Closely Guarded Secret

I liked that Mr. Wharfe seemed to have written his book in a way that made the “Princess” look human with her many wonderful characteristics and her flaws as well! Cheers

Excellent

I've read a lot about Princess Diana over the years but this book stands out from the others. You get the good, the bad, and the ugly, but written with great respect. To me it was a no-nonsense account of a complicated person. I will always feel sad about her tragic end, as do many others.

I also like the fact that the author didn't demonize Prince Charles, in fact, I don't recall him trashing anyone. I know Prince Charles isn't a saint but I'm glad the author didn't resort to what some people do to sell books (trashy gossip etc) From all I've read about the Royals I think parts of Charles' life have not been easy for him, either. Who knows what would have happened if he'd been able to marry Camilla when he wanted to as a young man? Diana may still be alive. We'll never know of course.

The author did a very good job reading his work. My only wish is that it were longer but he was employed by Diana for only a couple of years so there isn't much more to say I imagine.
A good listen.

Excellent

Well written and detailed. His memories are very well detailed and it feel honest. Really enjoy the book!

One.of.the best books by someone in her employ

I have read a lot of books about both the Princess and the prince. Ken Wharfe has written a fair.assessment on her and her marriage. He neither worships her or demonized her. He also does spend all his energy patting himself on the back and attempting to bask in her reflective glory. I wish him well in his future.

Informative how this protection service worked

A gallant man performing his duty to protect Princess Diana and her sons.
This story illustrates the difficult balance between fame and the price
It costs.

Fairly well balanced.

Most of these biographies are either Team Charles or Team Diana and paint the other as the troll under the bridge or an hysterical harpy. While it's clear that the author was completely charmed by the late Princess of Wales, the fact that he seems to know it and was able to recognize when she was doing it adds to his credibility.

It's a sad tale of a man who watches as the lives of a family unravel before him and both adults seek what they need outside their marriage. This is probably the fairest bio I've read concerning the previous generation of Wales.