Barry Mannakee
Encyclopedia
Barry Albert Mannakee was a police officer
with the Royal Protection Squad and was assigned as a bodyguard
to Diana, Princess of Wales
in 1985. He died in a road traffic accident in 1987.
According to the book Diana: The Last Word by Simone Simmons, published 29 June 2005, Mannakee soon became Diana's closest confidant in the royal circle. Diana would often turn to him for comfort if she was feeling lonely or depressed and Barry was always there for her.
Simmons also claims that Colin Trimming, the Prince of Wales
' personal protection officer, once walked in on Mannakee comforting Diana. He assumed they were having an affair, and he reported his suspicions to the Prince.
Diana thought of Mannakee as one of her best friends. When people thought they were too close, he was moved in 1986 from his royal duties at Kensington Palace
to the Diplomatic Protection Group
in central London. In Diana's words, he was "chucked out". Talking of Mr Mannakee's death, Diana said: "I think he was bumped off, but there we are."
Video tapes were broadcast by American television network NBC
, the Princess said: "I was quite happy to give all this up ... Just to go off and live with him. Can you believe it? And he kept saying he thought it was a good idea." Also in the tapes, Diana said she believed the man with whom she was "deeply in love" was "bumped off" by security services.
Lord Stevens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
, ordered a re-investigation of the circumstances of Mr Mannakee's death as part of Operation Paget
.
motorbike he was riding as a passenger, driven by a fellow police officer, crashed into a Ford Fiesta
driven by 17-year-old Nicola Chopp, in Woodford, east London. As an estate car turned left in front of the motorbike, Chopp pulled out from a side road, turning right across the motorbike's path. An unknown car with dazzling lights was quoted at the inquest as a contributory factor to the crash, but the vehicle has never been traced. The inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Diana never truly believed that it was an accident and thought that someone had killed him because "he knew too much".
Mannakee married Susan Bennett in London in 1966. They had two children.
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
with the Royal Protection Squad and was assigned as a bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
to Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
in 1985. He died in a road traffic accident in 1987.
According to the book Diana: The Last Word by Simone Simmons, published 29 June 2005, Mannakee soon became Diana's closest confidant in the royal circle. Diana would often turn to him for comfort if she was feeling lonely or depressed and Barry was always there for her.
Simmons also claims that Colin Trimming, the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
' personal protection officer, once walked in on Mannakee comforting Diana. He assumed they were having an affair, and he reported his suspicions to the Prince.
Diana thought of Mannakee as one of her best friends. When people thought they were too close, he was moved in 1986 from his royal duties at Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and...
to the Diplomatic Protection Group
Diplomatic Protection Group
The Diplomatic Protection Group is a Specialist Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit's main purpose is to provide specialist protection for diplomatic residencies in London, such as embassies, high commissions and consular sections...
in central London. In Diana's words, he was "chucked out". Talking of Mr Mannakee's death, Diana said: "I think he was bumped off, but there we are."
Video tapes were broadcast by American television network NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, the Princess said: "I was quite happy to give all this up ... Just to go off and live with him. Can you believe it? And he kept saying he thought it was a good idea." Also in the tapes, Diana said she believed the man with whom she was "deeply in love" was "bumped off" by security services.
Lord Stevens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
, ordered a re-investigation of the circumstances of Mr Mannakee's death as part of Operation Paget
Operation Paget
Operation Paget was the Metropolitan Police inquiry, led by Lord Stevens, that investigated the conspiracy theories surrounding the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al-Fayed on 31 August 1997....
.
Death
In 1987, Mannakee was killed when the SuzukiSuzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
motorbike he was riding as a passenger, driven by a fellow police officer, crashed into a Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
driven by 17-year-old Nicola Chopp, in Woodford, east London. As an estate car turned left in front of the motorbike, Chopp pulled out from a side road, turning right across the motorbike's path. An unknown car with dazzling lights was quoted at the inquest as a contributory factor to the crash, but the vehicle has never been traced. The inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Diana never truly believed that it was an accident and thought that someone had killed him because "he knew too much".
Mannakee married Susan Bennett in London in 1966. They had two children.