The British bodyguard, known for being the sole survivor of the tragic 1997 car crash in Paris that claimed the lives of Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed, has a story marked by both resilience and service. The driver of the vehicle, Henri Paul, was also pronounced dead at the scene, leaving the bodyguard as the only one to walk away from the devastating incident.

Before all the fame and media attention, his early life unfolded across borders and cultures. Born in Rinteln, West Germany, he was the middle child of three boys born to Colin Rees, a surgeon serving in the British Army, and Gill, a dedicated nurse. His upbringing reflected a military family’s transient lifestyle, but at the age of 10, a significant shift occurred when he returned with his family to Oswestry, a town on the Welsh border near where his father had grown up. This move grounded him in a more stable environment, where he eventually enrolled at Fitzalan High School.

It was during his school years that he first showed an inclination toward discipline and structure, joining the Combined Cadet Force—a decision that would foreshadow his future path. Driven by a sense of duty, he enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in 1987. His time in the military was marked by commitment; he completed a tour of duty in Northern Ireland and was later awarded the General Service Medal for his service.

Throughout it all, the British bodyguard remained relatively unknown to the public until fate placed him at the center of one of the most high-profile tragedies of the 20th century. Yet, long before that night in Paris, his character had already been shaped by years of training, sacrifice, and a deep-rooted sense of responsibility—qualities that defined him far beyond the headlines.