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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bodyguard says GCHQ bugged Diana | Bodyguard says GCHQ bugged Diana |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Princess Diana's conversations were being recorded by the intelligence services, a former bodyguard has told the inquest into her death. | Princess Diana's conversations were being recorded by the intelligence services, a former bodyguard has told the inquest into her death. |
| Ken Wharfe, who served Diana for six years, said the "Squidgygate" tapes of Diana speaking intimately to a friend in 1989 were probably made by GCHQ. | Ken Wharfe, who served Diana for six years, said the "Squidgygate" tapes of Diana speaking intimately to a friend in 1989 were probably made by GCHQ. |
| Transcripts in which the friend, James Gilbey, called Diana "Squidgy" were published in a national newspaper. | Transcripts in which the friend, James Gilbey, called Diana "Squidgy" were published in a national newspaper. |
| Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died in Paris after a car crash in August 1997. | Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died in Paris after a car crash in August 1997. |
| Security risk | Security risk |
| Mr Wharfe told the central London hearing he believed the surveillance service GCHQ had broadcast the recording of the phone conversation over the airwaves for radio enthusiasts to pick up. | Mr Wharfe told the central London hearing he believed the surveillance service GCHQ had broadcast the recording of the phone conversation over the airwaves for radio enthusiasts to pick up. |
| "It's my belief this internal recording was probably made by GCHQ... they probably had a good reason for doing it," he said. | "It's my belief this internal recording was probably made by GCHQ... they probably had a good reason for doing it," he said. |
| "For some unknown reason this conversation is released on a loop to allow (radio enthusiasts)... to pick them up." | "For some unknown reason this conversation is released on a loop to allow (radio enthusiasts)... to pick them up." |
| I think Diana was very angry and annoyed the Queen could not see what she was doing Ken Wharfe, Diana's former bodyguard | I think Diana was very angry and annoyed the Queen could not see what she was doing Ken Wharfe, Diana's former bodyguard |
| He added that he believed GCHQ were monitoring members of the royal family due to heightened IRA activity at the time. | He added that he believed GCHQ were monitoring members of the royal family due to heightened IRA activity at the time. |
| The recorded conversation took place on New Year's Eve 1989 while Diana was staying at the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Mr Gilbey was on a mobile phone. | The recorded conversation took place on New Year's Eve 1989 while Diana was staying at the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Mr Gilbey was on a mobile phone. |
| Mr Wharfe said Diana was concerned about the tape "purely from an embarrassment point of view". | Mr Wharfe said Diana was concerned about the tape "purely from an embarrassment point of view". |
| However, he said the Queen told the princess she was unhappy about what had happened and ordered an inquiry. | However, he said the Queen told the princess she was unhappy about what had happened and ordered an inquiry. |
| He also told the inquest jury how the Queen did not support her work with organisations dealing with HIV/Aids. | He also told the inquest jury how the Queen did not support her work with organisations dealing with HIV/Aids. |
| He said that on one occasion, Diana told him: "The Queen doesn't like me getting involved with Aids... [and said] 'Why don't you get involved with something more pleasant?'" | He said that on one occasion, Diana told him: "The Queen doesn't like me getting involved with Aids... [and said] 'Why don't you get involved with something more pleasant?'" |
| 'Media alienated' | |
| The princess was the first in the royal family to have contact with a patient affected by the illness, at a time when many people still did not know how the infection was passed on. | |
| "I think Diana was very angry and annoyed the Queen could not see what she was doing," he said. | "I think Diana was very angry and annoyed the Queen could not see what she was doing," he said. |
| He also said the princess's aides had made the mistake of "alienating" the media rather than working with them. | He also said the princess's aides had made the mistake of "alienating" the media rather than working with them. |
| Richard Horwell, representing the Metropolitan Police at the hearing, said Diana had requested that Mr Wharfe was removed from her police protection team. | |
| Mr Horwell said she had lost confidence in him and suspected he had been talking to the press about her. | |
| In response, Mr Wharfe told the jury he was "astounded" to hear that and claimed Diana's behaviour had become a "bit odd" and she was becoming suspicious of her security team. | |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |