A chat with Trevor Rees-Jones
Author of "The Bodyguard's Story: Diana, the Crash, and the Sole Survivor"
Chat Moderator: Welcome Trevor Rees-Jones.
Trevor Rees-Jones: Welcome, everyone. Feel free to ask whatever you like.
Chat Moderator: What has Mr. Fayed accused you of?
Trevor Rees-Jones: I think it was an article in the magazine in the U.S., and also on a television program, he accused me of unprofessionalism, and said that that caused the accident.
Question from browserman: You look really great for having been in such terrible shape.
Trevor Rees-Jones: I think I'm very lucky to have such a good surgeon who put me back together. I'm back to full fitness now, back to playing rugby and working.
Question from candi: Trevor, do you suffer any posttraumatic stress?
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Trevor Rees-Jones: No, I don't suffer any of that at all. I never have.
Question from shanks: How is your family coping with this tragedy?
Trevor Rees-Jones: I think that it was either going to make or break us, as a family. Somehow, we're still talking and laughing at the end of it, and we've actually become a lot closer.
Question from Nanner: Why did Mr. Fayed accuse you of unprofessionalism?
Trevor Rees-Jones: That's something that I can't answer. That's something that you'd have to ask Mr. Fayed if you get the chance.
Question from Deb484: Trevor, everyone is confused... were you or were you not wearing a seat belt?
Trevor Rees-Jones: No, that was misreported... it was proven that I was NOT wearing a seatbelt.
Question from Nanner: You weren't driving, so why would he accuse you of that (unprofessionalism)?
Trevor Rees-Jones: Again, I can't really comment on why Mr. Fayed is doing what he's doing. I can't put myself in his position, so I'm not prepared to speculate on why he feels he has to attack.
Question from JuliaFH: Does Mr. Fayed acknowledge the fact that the driver was drunk and driving recklessly also?
Trevor Rees-Jones: I believe Mr. Fayed thinks that the blood test of Henri Paul wasn't correct. I think he believes Henri Paul was not drunk, and he said he believes he was a paid informer for MI6.
Question from crash: Mr. Jones, at present do you plan any litigation from your former employer?
Trevor Rees-Jones: I don't plan to mount any legal actions against my former employer, or the Ritz. I believe this will just drag the whole episode through the courts for a very long time. I haven't received any compensation or insurance payout, and whatever I make from this book after paying the lawyers, I'll put away for a rainy day.
Question from Juicy: What do you hope to gain by writing this book?
Trevor Rees-Jones: I hope that people will see that myself and Kez, the other bodyguard on duty, did as much as anyone could have done, given the circumstances. I can just tell the truth as best I know it, and I'll be able to put it behind me.
Question from Pen: What was Mr. Fayed like as a boss when you worked for him before the accident? Did you feel he was a competent employer?
Trevor Rees-Jones: Mr. Muhammad Al-Fayed was a very hands-on employer. He took an interest in everything that went on, and he is a very powerful man. Within the organization, anything that Mr. Fayed said, goes without question.
Question from PATRICK: What are your peers (other bodyguards) saying? Do you get support from them?
Trevor Rees-Jones: Definitely, yes. I've spoken to people that used to work for Fayed, and some lads are still working there. I've had unqualified support from everyone.
Question from pastasauce: Do you think you've done the late Princess a disservice by writing this book?
Trevor Rees-Jones: Not at all, no. I believe I've shown the Princess to be a very warm and natural person, as she was. I haven't divulged any private information, and I hope that people will see that she enjoyed that summer that ended in such a tragic way.
Question from loppy: Trevor do you get harassed a lot because you lived and Diana didn't?
Trevor Rees-Jones: No, I don't get harassed a lot. 99.9 percent of people are very supportive. The small percentage that haven't been, I don't feel I need to react to, because I'm so overwhelmed by the support that's shown.
Question from Boscoe: Did Dodi often not take your advice, and go with his own wishes? Did you have to report that to Mr. Fayed?
Trevor Rees-Jones: The problem we had with Dodi during that final 10 days was a lack of information about his plans. It was even simple things, such as going for a swim off the back of the yacht, and not informing either of us security about it. This did get reported back to London, to Mr. Fayed. But it was a growing concern throughout that final trip.
Question from stanb: Do you fear retaliation from Fayed by speaking out?
Trevor Rees-Jones: No, I don't fear any retaliation. I'm just saying the truth. People will see that's all it is. There's no point in me worrying about something that's totally out of my control.
Question from Yowzah: Trevor is there anything you wish you had done differently if you could be given a second chance?
Trevor Rees-Jones: It's only natural to look back and question yourself with "if only" and "what if". Looking back on that final evening, I've questioned myself more times than anyone would ever realize. I fully stand by what I did, given the circumstances as they were. If I were still questioning myself, I'd be living in the past. Of course, there are certain things you would change, but that's just hindsight. I believe the mistake that night that was made was by Henri Paul, not declaring himself unfit to drive.
Question from tracymom: Do you have any fear of driving, or do you get any flashbacks?
Trevor Rees-Jones: No, I've never had any fear of driving or getting in a vehicle at all. Maybe that's because I don't remember the crash itself.
Question from MasatoMike: Trevor: what was your last clear memory from that night?
Trevor Rees-Jones: My last clear memory is getting the couple into the vehicle at the back of the Ritz, and as the car pulled away, noticing a couple press vehicles start to follow, and then that's it, until approximately 12 days later, in the hospital.
Question from OkieJim: Trevor, has your opinion of "tabloids" changed, i.e. did you used to read them and do not now?
Trevor Rees-Jones: I've become slightly more cynical of not just the tabloids, but of all the media. I don't believe absolutely everything that's written in newspapers anymore. However, I still read the newspapers, and some reports of what went on have been quite clear.
Question from pastasauce: How did you feel when you were told that everyone else in the car had died?
Trevor Rees-Jones: Just complete and utter shock. I was absolutely stunned. It was a major frustration, too, not being able to communicate with anyone, because of the injuries I'd sustained. I had to just lie there and take it, which was very, very difficult.
Question from bill: Have you spoken with Diana's children or to her ex-husband concerning the events of the accident night?
Trevor Rees-Jones: The contact that my family has had with the Royal Family is that my parents have had a reply to a letter that they sent to Prince Charles, and my ex-wife Sue also received a letter from the Prince quite soon after the accident.
Question from JuliaFH: Did the process of writing your book help you with closure?
Trevor Rees-Jones: To a certain extent it has, yes. I can say to people that's all I know. I won't have to answer many media requests for interviews again. However, the Paris investigation still isn't closed due to an appeal by Mr. Fayed. Once that's finished, there are still two coroner's inquests into the deaths of Dodi and the Princess, to be held in the UK. So, once that's done, hopefully then I can finally draw a line under the whole thing, and move on.
Question from Queenie: Mr. Fayed is determined that the deaths were a result of a plot by someone who did not wish Dodi and Diana to be linked together. Do you believe there is any truth in this?
Trevor Rees-Jones: No, I fully accept the conclusions of the exhaustive two-year French investigation.
Question from Silky: I have not heard you mention God in any of your interviews. I was wondering how did this impact your spiritual life?
Trevor Rees-Jones: When I first got home after leaving hospital, I did visit my local village church. This was firstly to thank the local community for their great support, but also, if there is anyone up there, to thank Him as well. However, I'm not a greatly religious person, and I haven't become any more religious since I had the accident.
Question from OkieJim: Trevor, it seems as if you've got your head on straight. So far, has the book tour had a negative effect on your attitude?
Trevor Rees-Jones: I was always willing to do a small amount of high-quality promotion for this book. However, I have found it very difficult, since I'm a private person. I have looked on it as a job. I'll do it to the best of my ability, but I'll be very glad when it's finished.
Question from Kigi: You must be tired of answering all these same questions over and over, huh?
Trevor Rees-Jones: Yes, it's very difficult. I'm only going to answer exactly what I know, and however many times a question is asked by an interviewer, it won't change the answer. So hopefully, people will see that I'm telling the truth.
Chat Moderator: Thank you, Trevor Rees-Jones, for joining us today.
Trevor Rees-Jones: Thank you very much for the questions. I hope that you'll read what I've written, and see it as the honest account that it is.
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