Ken Wharfe

Ken Wharfe was born in Canterbury Kent and joined the Metropolitan Police Service as a special cadet at the age of 17. He attained the rank of Inspector before being selected to join Scotland Yard’s elite Royalty Protection Department. The SAS trained officer was chosen to head up the security for the Queen’s grandchildren, heir apparent Prince William and Prince Henry who as children, affectionately called him ‘Uncle Ken’. A year later in 1987, he was appointed a Personal Protection Officer to the Princess of Wales. Princes Diana trusted him with her innermost secrets during the most traumatic years of her marriage to Prince Charles and he was at her side as she plotted to escape from what she believed was the gilded cage of the Royal Family. In charge of the Princess’s around the clock security at home and abroad, in public and private, Ken Wharfe became a close friend and loyal confidant who shared her most private moments. His resignation in November 1993 made headline news. Just weeks later the Princess announced she was withdrawing from public life and then axed her Scotland Yard Protection, a decision her former ‘Top Cop’ as the British press referred to him – believes ultimately led to her death. Ken Wharfe was appointed to oversee the internal security of Princess Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey, attended by over fifty heads of state. Just months after Princess Diana’s death in Paris on August 31 1997, Inspector Wharfe was honored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and made a Member of the Victorian Order, a personal gift of the Sovereign for his loyal service to her family. Until his retirement after 35 years of exemplary service with the Metropolitan Police, nearly half in the Royalty Protection Department, he was Personal Protection Officer to the Queen’s cousin, The Duke of Kent.