How Princess Diana broke protocol with Kensington Palace staff shared by former bodyguard
How Princess Diana broke protocol with Kensington Palace staff shared by former bodyguard
Niti Majethia Mon, August 3, 2026 at 11:35 PM UTC
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Princess Diana taught Princes Harry and William to be respectful (Image: -)
Nearly three decades following her passing, Princess Diana continues to be among the globe's most influential public figures - a royal whose impact persists in shaping discussions surrounding the British monarchy, charitable work, and style.
Celebrated as the "People's Princess," she has an enduring influence that transcends the media coverage that once dominated her story, connecting with generations who never experienced her presence firsthand. In an exclusive conversation with The Express US, Princess Diana's former personal protection officer, Ken Wharfe, shares previously undisclosed details about the princess's life, including her approach to parenting Prince William and Harry and the evolution of her complicated relationship with the royal institution.
This comes as it was revealed that Princess Diana once requested a taboo item to be smuggled into the Royal Family household.
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Wharfe served as bodyguard to Princes William and Harry beginning in 1986 and assumed the role of Princess Diana's personal protection officer in 1988. His service to Princess Diana ended in 1993, though he remained with the Royal Protection Squad until his retirement in 2002.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles (now King Charles III) are parents to two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who were raised at Kensington Palace, and Wharfe remembered how the boys "enjoyed a very happy childhood in a huge nursery."
Princess Diana remains one of the world's most enduring public figures (Image: undefined)
"During my time there, they had three nannies, all of whom had an excellent relationship with Diana. The early nanny, Barbara Barnes, was perhaps a little stricter than those who followed. Diana preferred a much more relaxed atmosphere.
She wanted the boys to enjoy themselves, to be mischievous, and they certainly were," Wharfe told the Express US in partnership with Casino.org.
What particularly struck him was how Princess Diana departed from the "traditional approach" in her interactions with palace staff. "Unlike the more traditional approach, where staff were addressed by their surnames, Diana insisted everyone was called by their first name. That was something quite new within the Household," Wharfe observed.
An insider revealed how Princess Diana treated her staff like a part of the family (Image: undefined)
He also noted that William and Harry "could certainly be naughty", but they were "also incredibly polite," adding, "If Diana ever heard them make a rude comment to anyone, she'd immediately say, 'Go and apologize."
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Additionally, the source revealed there was a "real sense of normal family life" at Kensington Palace.
"I rarely saw the Prince of Wales [Charles] in the nursery, although he did come in from time to time," the insider commented.
Reflecting fondly on his time with the young princes, he recalled, "I remember one occasion when the nanny dragged me in because William and Harry wanted someone to have a pillow fight with. Before I knew it, I was being battered with cushions. Suddenly, I became aware that the Prince of Wales was standing in the doorway watching, rather embarrassingly so."
He quipped, "I said, 'I'm terribly sorry about this, Your Royal Highness.' He smiled and said, 'I hope they're not beating you up.' Which, of course, they were."
Wharfe noted that it "must have been rather difficult for him" to witness one of his protection officers "taking part in what perhaps ought to have been a family game," yet he never "appeared to have any objection nor any complaint" regarding the situation.
The royal insider went on to describe how both princes were raised to show respect toward all household staff, whether that be the chef, cleaning personnel, or any other member of the team.
"I remember one Filipino lady who cleaned the nursery. She was a wonderful woman and probably put up with more than her fair share from the boys while trying to do her job. But they respected her, and they were always taught to apologize if they'd overstepped the mark," he recalled, painting a picture of how mutual respect and courtesy were the essence of Charles and Diana's parenting.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
