A small sex toy is the unlikely lucky mascot Diana, Princess of Wales insisted on taking during official foreign trips, her former personal protection officer has revealed.

And Diana was left in a fit of giggles by the sight of an un-named member of staff putting a blown-up condom on his head.

The vibrator, dubbed Le Gadget, was left behind when Diana travelled to Nepal in 1993 for an official visit, but the Princess gave orders for it to be dispatched to the capital Kathmandu.

In Her Own Words: Princess Diana reveals she fell "deeply in love" with bodyguard Barry Mannakee

Diana's former personal protection officer Ken Wharfe recounts in his new book Guarding Diana: Protect The Princess Around The World: “Le Gadget was perhaps our finest wind-up, and an almost constant source of laughter.

“The small vibrator, bought as a practical joke after a staff night out in Paris during Diana's official visit there the previous November, had become her lucky mascot.”

The object personified Diana's sense of humour that was provoked by the unusual, absurd and unexpected during the long official visits.

When the vibrator arrived in a diplomatic bag, a Gurkha aid of the King of Nepal insisted on delivering it to the Princess's equerry Captain Ed Musto just before a press reception, in honour of the visit, at the British ambassador's official residence.

Mr Wharfe said: “Musto, a self-effacing officer who towered over everyone present, not quite knowing what to expect, foolishly opened the packet and removed the offending item in front of everyone in the room (but, mercifully, not the press, who were starting to gather outside).

“There was a stunned pause (and a few bemused glances from Embassy dignitaries), until the silence was broken by Diana, who said, 'Oh, that must be for me,' and began to laugh.”

During a tour of Pakistan in 1991, Diana and her entourage were entertained by the condom escapade while on a flight.

Mr Wharfe, who guarded Diana from 1987 to 1993, writing in his book, said: “We were all a little demob-happy, when the staff member decided to reveal that he had a party trick where he could blow up the condom and put it on his head, fully inflated.

“'Really? Go on then, show me,' Diana said, intrigued, and laying down the bizarre challenge excitedly (began).

A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate Show all 10 1 /10 A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate 24th February 1981: Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer at Buckingham Palace in London on the occasion of their engagement. Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales on the banks of the River Dee in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Scotland whilst on their honeymoon. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, purchased Balmoral Castle in 1846, and the small castle which stood in the 7,000 hectare wooded estate was redeveloped in the 1850s. Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate London's national newspapers headline 21 December the report that Queen Elizabeth has sent a letter to both Prince Charles and the Princess Diana spelling out her 'desire for an early divorce.' Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate Charles, Diana and William during a photocall in 1983 2006 Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate Diana and Charles on the steps of St Mary's hospital with their newborn son William in June 1982 Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate 29th July 1981: Members of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace following the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Also present are Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900 - 2002), Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate Lady Diana, Princess of Wales and Charles, Prince of Wales are seen during their wedding at St Paul Cathedral in London 29 July 1981. Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate May 1981: Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Scotland whilst on their honeymoon. Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate March 1981: Prince Charles and his fiance Lady Diana Spencer Getty Images A Day That Shook The World: Charles and Diana separate Prince Charles, Princess Margaret and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 Getty Images

“Within seconds everyone was falling about the place in fits of giggles as the staff member accomplished this extraordinary feat in a matter of seconds.”