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?!”
His candid admission comes after we revealed Meghan Markle has hired Kim Kardashian’s ex bodyguard.
It seems having a hunky bodyguard is the latest hot accessory for many celebs – but former Royal Military Police Sergeant and martial arts champion Lee says some pick one to fit their image, rather than the best man for the job.
He says: “I’m not saying this about Meghan, but quite a few A-listers choose a bodyguard based on their image. It’s like a top of the range Rolex watch.
“The sort of person you want is there to look after you, it’s not about how they look.
“I’m seeing it creeping in more and more in the industry, which is concerning.
“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 was assigned to look after Mohamed Al-Fayed’s son Dodi and Princess Diana in July 1997, a month before she died, while they holidayed on the Harrods boss’ superyacht in St Tropez.
He says Diana was an “amazing woman”, adding: “She cared a great deal. She never said a bad word about anyone.”
He reveals the princess cried on his shoulder after her close pal, fashion designer Gianni Versace, was murdered, fearing she was next.
Lee says he also became close to Princes William and Harry – even teaching “naughty” Harry how to drive a jet ski close to photographers so they would get soaked.
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Lee says the boys would “come sit with the bodyguards” at any opportunity, desperate to hear stories of their military days.
He says: “Everyone had been in the military, from special forces, medical corps, to the paras.
“We used to sit and tell them stories from when we were in the military. Their knowledge of the military was really good.
William was very caring and measured everything he said, whereas Harry was a naughty boy. He was such a great kid
Lee Sansum
“They were so much fun. William was very caring and measured everything he said, whereas Harry was a naughty boy. He was such a great 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 grew up in Salford, Greater Manchester, and served as a military police officer in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.
He says: “I was looking after people in witness protection. I learnt my craft in Northern Ireland.”
After leaving the Army he started working as a civilian bodyguard, known in the industry as The Circuit. The client is known as the Principal.
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.
But it was a different story with Belgian film star Jean-Claude Van Damme, who Lee looked after when he was in the UK filming a fly-on-the-wall documentary.
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, who released a book called The 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.
After escorting his boss Mohamed Al-Fayed to his car, he recalls Pele’s team weren’t up to scratch because “they were too chic, too smart”.
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.”
After fans mobbed the star, he and his team quickly got Pele to safety.
Lee also looked after Rocky star Sylvester Stallone in Paris.
He recalls: “He was small. He was a strange character really. He was nice enough.”
Lee adds: “I think some of these celebs forget how they got where they are. The fans are the reason they are where they are. When you see they are not as grateful, it doesn’t sit well.”
Bullet-proof bag
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Lee was once offered a job minding another princess, who he won’t name.
He says: “Not a British one. I asked how many bodyguards she had. They told me she’d had five or six and confided that she was into bodyguards.”
He says he immediately politely turned the job down.
The dad-of-six says being snapped with a celeb out and about is a small part of being a bodyguard.
He says: “You have to plan months ahead. You have to do reconnaissance and endless risk assessments.
“The life of a celebrity is crazy. There are lots of last minute engagements. They often sleep in.
“But if they get up at 2pm, you have to be up two or three hours before them. The lack of sleep can be hard.
Celebs are demanding, because they have demanding lives. They have big egos. They have to, to get on stage or whatever it is they do
Lee Sansum
“Celebs are demanding, because they have demanding lives. They have big egos. They have to, to get on stage or whatever it is they do.”
He says one of the biggest threats of looking after a star can be “stalkers” and “crazy people”.
The job also involves lots of babysitting, making sure stars don’t get caught doing anything they shouldn’t “to protect their image”.
He says: “I teach bodyguards all over the world and I say, ‘Think about going out with your child. If you can do that it’s not far from looking after an A-lister.’ “
Lee’s risk assessments are so detailed they even include checking the weather forecast.
Attention to detail
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Lee recalls: “I was with a female celebrity at a football match in a private box. As part of my risk assessment, I’d 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 it did, I reached in my bag of goodies and got out a pair of sunglasses for me and for her.
“She looked at me and smiled as if to say, ‘Wow, this guy is switched on.’
“There were other celebrities there with bodyguards and no one had thought to do that. They were all squinting.”
Dad-of-six Lee said his “bullet proof bag” could contain medical equipment, medication, anything that may be needed.
He claims celebrities often make demands on their bodyguards – including asking them to carry illegal drugs.
He says: “I’ve never been asked. Some of my friends have and they have stopped working for that person instantly.”
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.
He now prefers a quieter life in Moray, in the Scottish Highlands, where he lives with his second wife Kate, 54, who runs online fitness classes.
The family runs a martial arts business and Lee travels the world as a motivational speaker and training other bodyguards.
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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