Di jumped to flee from prying eyes

‘‘Directly beneath her balcony I found a perfect impression of the princess’s body in the deep snow. Footprints led away into the town,’’ he said in the extract from Diana: Closely Guarded Secret.

‘‘Ken, I just needed some air,’’ he quoted her as saying. ‘‘Yes, I did jump from the balcony. I knew it was okay — it was deep, soft snow, and I knew it would be all right.’’

The extracts of the book by Wharfe, who shadowed Diana for nearly six years between 1988 to 1993 as her personal protection officer, were the latest revelations to fuel Britons’ endless fascination with the former princess. Wharfe, also recalled ‘‘an even more worrying episode’’ in 1992 when Diana disappeared on a yacht she was sharing with Charles and guests.

‘‘There was a real fear that she had jumped overboard. She was not in her cabin, and nobody had the least idea where she might be. Panic set in,’’ Wharfe wrote.