Princess Diana’s Controversial Love Affair: The Truth Behind Her Relationship with her Bodyguard

Princess Diana has always captivated the public's attention, but it is Netflix's hit series, The Crown, that has brought her tumultuous life into the spotlight once again.

Since its release in 2016, the show has visually chronicled Queen Elizabeth II's reign, with its fourth season shedding light on Princess Diana's turbulent relationship with Prince Charles.

In season four of The Crown, viewers witnessed the early days of the couple's supposedly unhappy marriage.

Played by Emma Corrin, Princess Diana discovered that Prince Charles' connection with Camilla Parker Bowles was far from platonic.

As Diana's despair grew, she allegedly engaged in multiple affairs, which she struggled to hide from the royal family.

One scene in The Crown featured Princess Anne making a lighthearted comment to the Queen about Diana's extramarital relationships, including one with her bodyguard.

Surprisingly, this throwaway line holds more truth than viewers may have realized.

In an interview with talk show host Tamron Hall in November 2020, Emma Corrin, who portrayed Princess Diana, acknowledged that while the series is fictionalized, it is rooted in reality.

Diana's bodyguard played a significant role in her life, as revealed in private voice tapes featuring the late princess.

These tapes, recorded in 1992 with Diana's voice coach Peter Settlin and released after her death, disclosed that Diana considered running away with her bodyguard at one point.

It seems that her greatest love was not Prince Charles, but the man assigned to protect her.

Although Diana did not mention him by name, it is believed that her bodyguard was Barry Manikee, a former police officer for the Royal Protection Squad.

Assigned to guard Diana in April 1985 during escalating tensions in her marriage, Manikee went above and beyond his professional duties.

He not only protected her from unwanted attention and accompanied her on trips but also provided emotional support.

According to royal expert Tina Brown, Diana and Manikee developed a close relationship during a fishing accident at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

After Diana injured herself, it was Manikee, not her husband, who consoled her.

Their emotional connection continued to grow, and they even engaged in public flirtations, which raised eyebrows among royal staffers.

While the exact nature of Diana and Manikee's relationship remains uncertain, some suggest that it was physical.

In 1986, they were allegedly caught in a compromising position, resulting in Manikee's dismissal.

However, others, like Ken Worf, Manikee's successor as bodyguard, claim that he was simply a friend to the princess.

Cavalry officer James Hewitt, with whom Diana had an affair, reportedly stated that Diana had confided in him about her romantic involvement with Manikee.

Despite attempts to keep their relationship discreet, their growing intimacy and familiarity did not go unnoticed by those within the palace, including Prince Charles.

Consequently, Manikee was transferred to the Diplomatic Protection Squad.

Tragically, nine months after leaving his position as Princess Diana's bodyguard, Manikee died in a motorbike accident.

Diana, attending the Cannes Film Festival in 1987, received the devastating news that her former protector had died instantly in a collision.

Some speculated foul play, suspecting that his motorbike had been tampered with due to his relationship with the princess.

Diana herself voiced suspicions, suggesting that he may have been deliberately targeted.

However, Manikee's death was thoroughly investigated during the inquiry into Diana's own tragic demise and was ultimately ruled as an accident.

Despite the conspiracy theories surrounding his untimely end, there is no concrete evidence to support foul play.

The story of Princess Diana's relationship with her bodyguard is just one chapter in the complex narrative of her life.

As Netflix's The Crown continues to captivate audiences, it serves as a reminder of the challenges Diana faced and the controversies that surrounded her.

Her legacy remains as intriguing as ever, leaving us to ponder the untold stories behind the public persona of the People's Princess.