HE’S looked after royalty and Hollywood stars – but elite bodyguard Lee Sansum admits he’d rather work in a war zone than with a celebrity any day.
Lee, 61, who was nicknamed ‘Rambo’ by Princess Diana, tells the Sun: “That’s more what I prefer to do.”
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He adds with a laugh: “It’s crazy, isn’t it?!”
This admission is made after it was revealed that Meghan Markle had hired Kim Kardashian’s former bodyguard.
Former Royal Military Police sergeant Lee, a martial arts champion and former Royal Military Police officer says that some celebrities choose a bodyguard to suit their own image rather than choosing the right man for the task.
He adds: “I don’t say this for Meghan but quite a number of A-listers select a personal bodyguard according to their appearance. This is like the top-of-the line Rolex.
It’s important to know that the person who will be looking after you is not concerned with their appearance.
It’s concerning to see it increasing in industry.
“It’s becoming easier for people to get bodyguard licences.”
The elite bodyguard adds: “There’s evidence some are not fit for purpose.”
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The close protection expert says he doesn’t recognise Meghan’s new bodyguard, whose identity has not yet been revealed, but says he’s likely to have good credentials.
He adds: “I’m sure with Prince Harry, he’s used to being looked after by bodyguards, he will have a good understanding of what a bodyguard needs to be, especially having been in the military.”
Diana’s ‘Rambo’
Lee looked after Princess Diana and Mohamed Al-Fayed’s Dodi in July 1997. This was a month prior to her death. They were on holiday aboard the superyacht of Harrods boss, John Harrod, in St Tropez.
He calls Diana an “amazing” woman, adding that she was “very caring”. She never said a bad word about anyone.”
After her friend, the fashion designer Gianni versace was killed, he reveals that Princess Diana cried on him, afraid she would be next.
Lee claims he became friends with Princes William, Harry and even taught “naughty Harry” how to ride a jetski close enough to the photographers to get them soaked.
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Lee said the boys were eager to “come and sit with the guards” whenever they had the chance, wanting to hear their stories from the military.
He said: “Everyone in the military had served, including the Special Forces, Medical Corps, and Paras.
They used to listen as we told them tales from our time in the army. They knew a lot about the military.
William had a great sense of care, and he measured every word he spoke. Harry on the other hand was a very naughty kid. It was a wonderful kid
Lee Sansum
They were so fun. William had a very kind heart and would measure everything he spoke, but Harry was not so nice. He was a wonderful kid.”
Harry even dared Lee to jump off a ship for £200, with Diana asking Mohammed Al-Fayed if she could borrow the money.
A-lister ‘beyond rude’
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Lee was born in Salford in Greater Manchester and worked as a Military Police Officer in Northern Ireland at the time of The Troubles.
He says: “I was looking after people in witness protection. I learnt my craft in Northern Ireland.”
He began working in the security industry after leaving the Army as a bodyguard. The Circuit is his trade name. Clients are called Principals.
A friend recommended him to billionaire businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed who was so impressed by Lee the bodyguard says he “became like family”.
As well as Diana, he worked with then-married Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman – who he says were “nice” – when they were in London promoting Mission: Impossible 2.
Lee was looking after Belgian star Jean-Claude Van Damme when he was filming a documentary in the UK.
He says the star was “so rude” and “has a massive ego” – and claims one of his team came close to killing him.
He laughs: “I said, ‘Listen, Rock, if you go in there and kill him then we’re not going to get paid.’ I talked him down.”
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Lee has released a new book entitled Bodyguard last year about his experiences, adds: “That’s the stress people can cause.”
He also rescued legendary footballer Pelé from being crushed during a visit to Harrods – despite not even being hired to look after him.
Pele recalls that his team was not up to par after escorting Mohamed Al-Fayed into his car. “They were too stylish, too intelligent”.
He says: “One of the skills of being an elite bodyguard is how to read people’s faces. The bodyguards’ adrenaline was going. Their peripheral vision wasn’t working so they had tunnel vision.
“They couldn’t see what was about to happen because they were looking at the Principal, not all around them, like a bodyguard should.”
Pele was quickly rescued by his team after fans mobbed Pele.
Lee took care of Rocky Star Sylvester Stallone, too.
He recalls: “He was small. He had a peculiar character. He was nice enough.”
Lee adds: “I think some of these celebs forget how they got where they are. They are there because of their fans. When you see they are not as grateful, it doesn’t sit well.”
Bulletproof Bag
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Lee has been offered the job of looking after another princess.
He replies: “Not British.” I asked her how many bodyguards had. “She had about five to six bodyguards and admitted that she is into them.”
“He politely refused the job immediately.”
A bodyguard is not just about being photographed.
He says: “You have to plan months ahead. “You have to make endless assessments of risk and do extensive reconnaissance.”
“The life of a celebrity is crazy. Many last-minute engagements are scheduled. They usually sleep in.
“But if they get up at 2pm, you have to be up two or three hours before them. It can be difficult to cope with the lack of sleep.
Celebs can be demanding because of their demanding lifestyles. The celebrities have big egos. It’s a necessity to perform on stage.
Lee Sansum
Celebrities are very demanding because of their demanding lifestyles. Their egos are big. “They have to do it to be on stage, or to perform whatever they are doing.”
The “stalkers”, “crazy” people, and other “unsavory characters”, he says are the greatest threats to a celeb’s safety.
The job also involves lots of babysitting, making sure stars don’t get caught doing anything they shouldn’t “to protect their image”.
He said: “I am a bodyguard instructor all around the world. I tell my students to think about taking their child out. You can look after a celebrity if you’re able to do this. “
Lee’s risk assessments are so detailed they even include checking the weather forecast.
Attention to detail
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Lee remembers, “I was in a box with a celebrity female at a soccer match. In order to assess the risk, I checked the weather.
“It had been cloudy all week but I knew the sun was going to come out and we were facing it. “As soon as the sun came out, I grabbed a pair for myself and her from my bag.
She smiled at me as though to say: ‘Wow! This guy’s switched on.
“There were other celebrities there with bodyguards and no one had thought to do that. All of them were squinting.
Lee, a dad of six, said that his “bullet-proof bag” may contain medication, medical equipment or anything else.
According to him, celebrities frequently demand that their bodyguards carry drugs.
He claims: “I was never asked.” My friends who have worked for this person have all quit immediately.
After Diana’s death Lee, who also looked after former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond, found himself getting recognised so he decided to do private security in Somalia and Libya for a few years.
His second wife Kate (54), who runs fitness online classes, lives in Moray.
Lee is a bodyguard and motivational speaker who travels around the globe.
He says: “I love being able to pass on my knowledge to the next generation.”
The Bodyguard by Lee Sansum and Howard Linskey is published by Seven Dials and available in Paperback, eBook and audio £9.99.
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