PRINCESS Diana’s former bodyguard who protected princes William and Harry has died at the age of 63.
Lee Sansum, who served as a royal military police officer, was one of Diana’s bodyguards shortly before her death in 1997, escorting her during a family holiday to the French resort of Saint Tropez that year.
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The former bodyguard’s wife announced the tragic news of Lee’s death in a post on Facebook on Monday, revealing he had died of a sudden heart attack.
Sharing a compilation of pictures of the couple throughout the years, she wrote: “Since meeting in 1998, Lee Sansum has been my soul mate, hero and most amazing man in my world.
“So I’m devastated to share that he is no longer with us. He had a fatal heart attack on Saturday morning at home.
“His huge presence will be missed around the world as much as it is in our household although his capacity for love, and the life skills he has shared have left a legacy that will never be lost.
“He’s forever loved and will always be with us
“I love you more than ever ‘My Lovely Lee’.”
On top of being a bodyguard for Diana and her kids, father-of-six Lee also served as a bodyguard for the late Alex Salmond, while he was serving as First Minister of Scotland in 2014.
Lee, who held black belts in karate, jujitsu and kick-boxing, was nicknamed “Rambo” by Diana and was no stranger to the spotlight.
He also loyally protected stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Nicole Kidman, and Tom Cruise during his career.
At the time of Diana’s tragic death in 1997, Lee was serving as part of the protection team for Mohamed Al-Fayed – the father of her then partner Dodi.
He had been assigned to look after Diana and her young sons Prince William and Prince Harry during their stay at Al-Fayad’s 30-bedroom villa in Saint Tropez in the summer of 1997.
This was tragically just one month before Diana died in a Paris car crash, alongside Dodi.
Lee had released a book in 2022 – called The Bodyguard – in which he explored his close relationship with Diana and the young princes, particularly Harry.
He revealed how he had tried to teach the two boys kickboxing but that they were too “apprehensive” to it.
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However, he managed to succeed in teaching Harry how to drive a jet ski – even helping him to soak photographers who were waiting to snap a picture of the young prince on holiday.
For his loyal and kind services on the trip, he was given a touching thank you letter by Diana.
In it, she wrote that she was grateful for the “magical ten days [which] would not have been possible without your invaluable contribution”.
The former bodyguard also revealed that Diana had turned to him for comfort, even crying on his shoulder, after her fashion designer friend Gianni Versace had been fatally shot outside his home in July 1997.
Lee, born in Burnley, Lancashire, said Diana would chat to him every day after she woke up at 7am – adding that she was worried about the safety of her own life.
He added that Diana was an “amazing woman”, saying: “She cared a great deal. She never said a bad word about anyone.”
25 years following her death, Lee also revealed how he could have been in the car with the princess on the day she died.
Speaking in a 2022 interview, he said: “It could have been me in that car.
“We drew straws to see who would be accompanying Trevor [Rees-Jones] that weekend.
“When I learned they were not wearing seatbelts in the crash I understood why they didn’t survive.
“I always insisted on it.”
Lee claimed Diana would still be alive if he had been on duty the night she died in a car crash.
The ex-Royal Military Policeman and “international security consultant” explained it was standard practice for the family to wear seatbelts – an order which had been sent down by Mohamed Al-Fayed.
When Diana, Dodi, and driver Henri Paul crashed and tragically died, none were wearing seatbelts.
Lee had begun his service as a military police officer in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
He said: “I was looking after people in witness protection. I learnt my craft in Northern Ireland.”
After leaving the Army he started working as a civilian bodyguard, known in the industry as The Circuit.
A friend then recommended him to billionaire businessman Al-Fayed, who was so impressed by Lee that the bodyguard said he “became like family”.
