Ken Wharfe was widely criticised when he published his memoirs about life as Princess Diana's personal protection officer, but, six years on, he insists he only wanted to keep alive the real story of the People's Princess.

The SAS-trained officer spent seven years looking after the late Princess of Wales and will be telling anecdotes and talking about his experiences at two lunchtime appearances at Fairfield Halls this month.

The publication of Diana - Closely Guarded Secret in 2003 was greeted with animosity from some but Wharfe has no regrets about it.

"I just thought it was a shame that all the experiences I had with her I couldn't share with someone," he says.

"It refers in part to the relationship she had with the Prince of Wales but that was just to put it in context because at that time the school of thought was saying she was mad and paranoid whereas I knew she was incredibly unhappy with her marriage.

"I wanted to write it for the only reason that following Diana's death there was an attempt to airbrush her out of royal history.

"I couldn't forget the time I worked with her and the way she changed the popularity of the monarchy.

"No one has ever got as close to the man and the woman on the street as Diana did and the other members of the royal family couldn't understand her popularity and were jealous of it."

During last year's inquest into Diana's death, Wharfe played a vital role, spending 70 per cent of his time there, including a day and a half in the witness box.

"I thought it was an inquest that had to be held," he says.

"From day one I never once thought there was ever any conspiracy as I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to kill Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.

"Mohamed Al Fayed could not offer one single piece of evidence to support his claims and even his own barrister did not ask him about the conspiracy theories because Fayed could not offer any proof.

"I think people accept the result as the end of the matter and that's how it should be."

Ken Wharfe, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, August 11 and 25, 1.05pm, £5. Call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk.