Diana bodyguard 'under pressure'

Trevor Rees said he had done his best to tell the truth

Trevor Rees has said he felt under pressure from Mohamed Al Fayed to recall a flash of light moments before the crash which killed Princess Diana.

The bodyguard and sole survivor of the crash told the inquest into Diana's death he did not "feel comfortable" when he was with the Harrods boss.

Mr Al Fayed, whose son Dodi also died in the crash, claims Mr Rees is pretending to suffer memory loss.

Mr Rees told the court he had always tried to do his best to tell the truth.

'Frustrated'

Known as Rees-Jones at the time of the crash on 31 August, 1997, in Paris, Mr Rees has since recovered from head injuries but says he remembers little from that night.

Under cross-examination from Richard Horwell QC, for the Metropolitan Police, Mr Rees said: "I felt the pressure to remember what had occurred. The fact that I could not frustrated myself and also obviously frustrated Mr Al Fayed.

He was obviously a very upset man Trevor Rees, speaking of Mohamed Al Fayed Doctor denies harming Diana

"In my meetings with him he would suggest possibilities, (to which) I would reply 'That's a possibility'.

"One I specifically remember was a flash in the tunnel which caused the accident. I would say 'That is a possibility'.

"I did not feel comfortable being in his presence at that time. He was obviously a very upset man."

Mr Rees also spoke of his concerns that Diana and Dodi had only two bodyguards assigned to them during their last holiday together.

The High Court heard how Mr Rees and Kes Wingfield were responsible for the pair 24 hours a day on their second trip of the summer on Dodi Al Fayed's yacht, the Jonikal.

Patrick Jephson said Diana felt isolated at times

The inquest also heard from Diana's former aide, Patrick Jephson, who wrote in his book that her paranoia was fed by her interest in astrology and soothsaying.

Her former private secretary from 1990 to 1996 told jurors Diana would consult a clairvoyant.

Jonathan Hough, representing the inquest, said Mr Jephson's book, Shadows of a Princess, stated the clairvoyant, known as the Duchess of York's "witch woman", predicted Prince Charles would die in a helicopter crash.

Mr Jephson told jurors at first he treated the predictions light-heartedly, but later felt they were having a "harmful effect" and made his life difficult.

He also said Andrew Morton's book, Diana, Her True Story, had offended elements of the Establishment.

The royals were concerned when the tell-all book, in which Diana was the main source, was published, he said.

The court heard Diana was told by the Duke of Edinburgh she was only "in it for the publicity".

Mr Jephson went on to agree with an interpretation that Diana felt like a lamb to the slaughter as she became a Royal, and at times felt isolated.

The inquest continues.