The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor

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Growing up with Princess Diana as one of my role models, I'll never forget the call I got from my brother that fateful August 31. I was watching the John Candy film "Cool Runnings" on VHS when my brother called me, "what are you doing?" he asked in a strange tone of voice, "watching a movie" I replied. "Turn it off and turn on the TV" he'd continued, "something big has happened." I remember wondering what could be so urgent when I asked, "what channel is it on." There was a pause on the phone when he replied, "every channel." The conclusion that Mr Rees-Jones had suffered memory loss was challenged by Mohamed al Fayed - Dodi's father. In 1989, three years before "The Bodyguard" was released, actress Rebecca Schaeffer was murdered by her stalker, Robert John Bardo, who shot Schaeffer at her L.A. apartment. The murder shook the entertainment industry and led to new legislation in California to prevent stalking. Although the script for Houston's debut film was written long before this tragedy, the fear of dangerous stalkers became palpable for celebrities (per E! News). Frank, Rachel, Rachel's driver Henry (Christopher Birt), Rachel's son Fletcher (DeVaughn Nixon), and her sister Nikki (Michele Lamar Richards) then travel to Frank's father's home, which is a large log cabin in the mountains by a lake. Frank's dad, Herb Farmer (Ralph Waite) is a semi-retired attorney who welcomes the group to his home. At the mountain retreat, Nikki attempts to seduce Frank, and becomes angry when her advances are refused. Fletcher is almost killed the next day, when a bomb explodes inside the boat he had been riding in moments before. After finding footprints around the cabin, and finding the automobiles sabotaged, they realize Rachel's stalker has followed them. Of the accident itself, Trevor places blame on Dodi's last-minute decision to install Henri Paul in the driver's seat. Paul was drunk, and although Trevor saw Paul drinking a yellow liquid in the Ritz bar earlier, he claims that he assumed the drink was nothing more than fruit juice. Why didn't Trevor speak up and insist on a licensed chauffeur for the Mercedes that night? Because "the boss" -- Fayed and Dodi -- had spoken and chosen Paul. Trevor has been frustrated in earlier attempts to get additional bodyguards sent to The Jonikal, Fayed's yacht that hosted Diana and Dodi's final trip together, and was rather fed up by the final evening, when Dodi disregarded his concerns about leaving the Ritz.

As soon as Rachel's limousine arrives on the red carpet, the tension is palpable, and her team is on edge. The crowd eagerly awaits her outside, and the constant buzzing action behind the scenes depicts how difficult it will be for Frank and Tony (Mike Starr) to protect Rachel when they can't be at her side every moment during the Oscar ceremony. Also fascinating was the weird control that Mohammad Fayed struggled to hold over his empire and his people. For Trevor Rees-Jones the answer is he was in the same hospital as Diana, fighting for his own life a few rooms away. As bodyguard to her companion Dodi Fayed, he was with the couple when, hounded by paparazzi and with a driver who turned out to be drunk, their Mercedes crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel under the Place de l'Alma in Paris. Dodi and the driver, Henri Paul, died instantaneously, medics say; Diana was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors worked feverishly to resuscitate her before giving up in the early hours of Sunday morning.Trevor Rees-Jones was clinging to life in the same hospital, only a few doors down from Diana's own room. Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed were already gone...just hours before in that horrific crash under Paris's Place de l'Alma tunnel. The hitman breaks into the house, Nikki tries to stop him, and he shoots and kills her before escaping. Frank ensures that his father, who is armed with a large caliber revolver, has secured the rest of the group on the second floor, then pursues the killer into the woods. Frank shoots at the hitman, but the hitman escapes through the dark woods. Frank learns the next day, from his Secret Service colleagues, that they have apprehended the stalker and were interviewing him when Nikki was shot. The film then follows Rachel Marron's life from performance to performance. Each performance features her singing a song (including Houston's hits I Will Always Love You and I Have Nothing) that reflects her emotional state. Frank Farmer successfully protects her from danger. Subsequently, and possibly as a result of his protection and the trust thus inspired, Rachel Marron falls in love with Frank, and, though he tries to keep their relationship professional, they sleep together. However, recognizing that their relationship puts her and her family in danger, he breaks-off the affair and heightens moves to protect her (many such previous moves were shot down by Rachel). Ironically, in an effort to separate Rachel from her own world, Frank introduces Rachel to his own father and personal life. As the story follows a number of potential stalkers, Rachel must put her trust in Frank ahead of her own selfishness and desire for success; as Frank must face the fact that the threat may not be what was expected. In the end, Frank's duty is fulfilled, having successfully protected Rachel, and they part with a kiss. Frank then moves on to his next assignment...to protect an archbishop. Wholly remarkable . . . Astonishing . . . This brave and inspiring book deserves to be blessed a thousandfold Trevor Rees-Jones is no writer. But then, he doesn't pretend to be. He's just a "bloke," better at rugby than at writing. His claim to fame: being in the fateful car with Diana and Dodi. Jones wrote the book to 1) make money and 2) counter Mohammad Al Fayed's claims of Trevor's culpability in the accident.

For royal watchers, this is a necessary addition to the collection. It's weakness - that it is not well written - might also be a strength, because one really gets the sense of who Trevor Rees Jones is. Instead of a thinker, he's a doer. Loyal to a fault, gentle, well-mannered, but not given to self reflection. Houston shared that much like her character Rachel in "The Bodyguard," Houston went on stage despite the threats. She didn't cancel her show and performed for the fans who had come out to see her. Houston admitted it wasn't just for her fans, she didn't want to let one dangerous fanatic take what she loved to do away from her.

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THE BODYGUARD'S STORY is that rare thing: a thriller told by an unexcitable man. After all those feverish rival accounts of Diana and her motives - the 'I Loved Her Better Than You ( school of memoir - this book is like drinking a long cold glass of water . . . Trevor Rees-Jones's straightforwardness is a virtue that looks all the more impressive in such a crooked story')

In 2000, Mr Rees-Jones published his memoirs entitled The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, The Crash And The Sole Survivor. THE BODYGUARD'S STORY is that rare thing: a thriller told by an unexcitable man. After all those feverish rival accounts of Diana and her motives - the 'I Loved Her Better Than You - school of memoir - this book is like drinking a long cold glass of water . . . Trevor Rees-Jones's straightforwardness is a virtue that looks all the Wholly remarkable . . . Astonishing . . . This brave and inspiring book deserves to be blessed a thousandfold ( Craig Brown, MAIL on Sunday) Wholly remarkable . . . Astonishing . . . This brave and inspiring book deserves to be blessed a thousandfold - Craig Brown, MAIL on Sunday THE BODYGUARD'S STORY is that rare thing: a thriller told by an unexcitable man. After all those feverish rival accounts of Diana and her motives - the 'I Loved Her Better Than YouAn additional awkwardness of this book is that it is written in the third person; which methodically develops a slight sense of surreal unreality. My sympathies lay primarily with Rees-Jones’ parents; their very real anguish caused by no fault of their own; and HRH The Prince Charles; for his arranged marriage to a daughter from a broken home. The odd error crops up; the late Diana, Princess of Wales was NOT given the pre-defined ceremonial of a “full royal funeral” (p.147), because at the time of her death she was a non-royal divorced woman. Who wins? Only two parties, as far as I could see: firstly the surgeon Dr Luc Chikhani, who spotted and achieved a truly remarkable and well-deserved career-assuring success in reconstructing Rees-Jones’ face; and secondly, albeit through a desperately tragic and horrific series of events, TRH The Princes William and Harry, who lost a woman whom they alone knew as a wonderful mother; but who have both since gained stability, love and bright futures which they might not have otherwise known. Much as I personally dislike dwelling on the fallibility and misfortune of others; I did find this book difficult to put down. When I finally did, I felt an overwhelming surge of relief at my own, very ordinary, life lived far, far away from the hungry media machine. Although Mr Rees-Jones was eager to return to work, he resigned from his job with Mr al Fayed in April 1998 on the advice of his solicitors. The bodyguard later claimed he had felt pressured by the business magnate to remember what had happened. In her film debut, Whitney Houston plays Rachel Marron, a pop music superstar. It seems that one of her fans is stalking her and has threatened to kill her, so Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner), a professional bodyguard and former Secret Service agent, is hired to protect her.