Princess Diana's former bodyguard Lee Sansum dies at 60

Heartbreak has struck royal circles and beyond with the death of Lee Sansum, a former bodyguard to Princess Diana, who passed away from a sudden heart attack on Saturday morning.

The devastating news was shared by his wife, Kate Sansum, in an emotional post on Facebook. 

“Since meeting in 1998, Lee Sansum has been my soul mate, hero and the most amazing man in my world,” she wrote. 

“I’m devastated to share that he is no longer with us. He had a fatal heart attack on Saturday morning at home.”

“His huge presence will be missed around the world as much as it is in our household… his capacity for love, and the life skills he has shared, have left a legacy that will never be lost.”

Sansum, a former Royal Military Policeman, protected Princess Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, during their public and private appearances, including a memorable family holiday in Saint Tropez just weeks before Diana’s tragic death in 1997.

In a heartfelt letter, Princess Diana once thanked him personally for “taking such good care of us,” describing their 10-day holiday as “magical.”

Sansum narrowly avoided being with Diana the night she died, having not been assigned to her detail in Paris that evening.

Throughout his career, Lee also served as a personal protector for A-list stars like Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Sylvester Stallone, and political figures like Alex Salmond. 

His work even took him into live hostile evacuation zones, including Libya during its 2014 civil war.

Known for his deep respect and admiration for Princess Diana, Lee once called her “an amazing woman” who “never said a bad word about anyone.”

RELATED: Charles Spencer says losing Princess Diana was 'like an amputation' in rare interview