Princess Diana opened up about her "greatest love" in newly-released footage.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana

The late Princess of Wales - who was killed in a car crash in 1997 aged 36 - discussed her relationship with ex-husband Prince Charles and spoke about a man she was "deeply in love with" on recordings in controversial documentary 'Diana: In Her Own Words'.

Speaking on the doc, which aired on Sunday evening (06.08.17), she said: "When I was 24 or 25 I was deeply in love with someone who worked in this environment [security].

"But then he was chucked out and he was killed."

While Diana didn't name the man it is thought she was talking about her former bodyguard Barry Mannakee, who tragically died aged 39 in a motorbike crash in May 1987 while he was on his way home to Loughton, Essex, south east England.

She said: "Eventually he had to go and then three weeks after he left he was killed in a motorbike accident.

"He was the greatest love I've ever had, and that was a real killer."

Barry was a passenger on the back of a motorbike driven by a friend, who survived, when they were involved in a collision with a car.

The driver was fined £85 for careless driving and the incident was ruled as an accident.

Diana's recordings were broadcast for the first time on the controversial documentary to mark the upcoming 20th anniversary of her death on August 31st.

The late royal's former butler Paul Burrell is one of several who hit out at the Channel 4 doc before it had even aired.

He said: "I think those tapes were made privately for the Princess' own use ... I don't think they should be broadcast. It's almost like raiding her diary. That's wrong ... It can only upset [her sons] Prince William and Prince Harry. I understand that there is a thirst for new information but I think it's a step too far."

Tagged in