MOHAMED Al-Fayed was responsible for Princess Diana’s death and knew the tragedy was his fault, claimed her ex-bodyguard.

Hearts broke across the world when Diana was killed while travelling in a black Mercedes Benz that crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel, in Paris, on the evening of August 31, 1997.

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Princess Diana’s death in 1997 plunged fans across the globe into mourningCredit: Rex

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Princess Diana and Ken Wharfe in 1992Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Mohamed Al Fayed has been exposed for sexually assaulting young girlsCredit: AFP

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The protection expert claimed Fayed was responsible for the tragedyCredit: Rex
She was making the journey with Dodi Al Fayed, her driver, Henri Paul, and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones – who was the only one to survive.

Ken Wharfe, former protection officer to Prince William and Harry, as well as the late Princess Diana, claimed Dodi’s father Mohamed Al Fayed was responsible for the horror.

In his book, written with royal author Rob Jobson, the protection expert told how his department had care of Diana for nearly 15 years.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Al Fayed’s team of bodyguards had been in charge for just eight weeks when tragedy struck.

The late Harrods tycoon has now been exposed for sexually abusing hundreds of women across the world, lawyers said on Thursday.

The legal group representing his victims said that more than 200 had come forward after the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, aired last week.

Ken Wharfe told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show: “The most important point is what’s occurred recently in light of these allegations about Fayed and his pursuit of staff, was the fear he inherited in his staff, and this controlling attitude.

“For me, this is exactly what happened in Paris in 1997.

“Fayed himself was controlling this whole affair, whole movement, of Diana and his son Dodi from his office in Park Lane.”

Victims have claimed Fayed used his ominous Park Lane penthouse as a base to sexually assault his victims.

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“You can’t control a protection operation when you’re not in the country,” continued Mr Wharfe.

“The point is I have some sympathy here for people like Rees-Jones and [Kez] Wingfield, and others in the security team because they were fearful of saying what they think should happen, if that in any way went against what Fayed wanted, or even what Dodi wanted.

“Although I’ve been very critical of that operation in Paris, with some justification, the reason why that happened, it was because of Rees-Jones and the security team, but they were so fearful of what Fayed would say if they for once recommended something that he disagreed with.”

The security expert told how “the one thing” that could have prevented the horror was removing Henri Paul from the driving seat.

“He was the cause of the accident, but they couldn’t do that, he had been a key member of the Fayed dynasty for 15, 16 years, he was much higher up that rung of authority than either Rees-Jones or Wingfield,” continued Mr Wharfe.

“If they had taken him out of that driving seat it would not have happened.

“But it was the fear and control that Fayed had that prevailed over these people.”

Henri Paul, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

He had a reputation of a “macho action man” who loved being around celebrities.

Blood analysis results from Paul’s post-mortem found to be three-times over the French drink-drive limit.

An inquest into Diana’s death in 2008 heard he had been privately treated for alcoholism but his family denied he had a drinking problem.

Evidence from a Ritz bar bill shows he had two Ricards – a French aniseed spirit – while waiting for Diana and Dodi to leave the hotel.

After 22 hours of deliberation at the inquest, it was officially concluded those involved in the crash were unlawfully killed by the grossly negligent driving of chauffeur Henri Paul, who had high levels of alcohol in his system, and paparazzi photographers pursuing their limousine.

At the time the tragedy unfolded, reports said Diana was suffering from concussion, a broken arm, and a cut thigh but she had also suffered severe chest injuries.

Despite doctors operating on the Princess for two hours, she never regained consciousness and died from internal bleeding at 4.53pm on August 31, 1997.

Princess Diana was 36 years old when she died.