Paul Burrell is aware of what goes on behind closed doors in the royal quarters due to his experience as Princess Diana’s butler. Since the death of his beloved boss, he has let out many secrets about Diana and her private life, possibly to the chagrin of her relatives. However, Burrell has focused all his attention on Harry, the late princess’ beloved son, and has expressed his opinion on the Duke of Sussex’s marriage to Meghan Markle.
Harry And Meghan’s Marriage Was The Subject Of A Candid Confession From Princess Diana’s Butler
He Knows What He’s Saying
Given that his connections to the royal family go back decades, Burrell should be familiar with what he’s saying. The Englishman developed a real and lasting interest in the British monarchy after a trip to Buckingham Palace as a young man. Over time, this would lead him to a position of great renown: being Queen Elizabeth II’s footman. However, Burrell’s position in the second line of the royal family would make him a household name. He worked as the princess’s butler for ten years until Diana’s untimely death in 1997, a role that, according to him, made him very close to her leader. In fact, Burrell has identified himself as “the one man Diana trusted.”
Knows what he’s saying
Controversial figure
Since being fired from his responsibilities, however, Burrell has become a highly controversial figure and has frequently made tabloid headlines. In 2001, for example, his home in the English county of Cheshire was searched by police due to allegations of burglary. It was alleged that Burrell had stolen various belongings belonging to Diana, her ex-husband, Prince Charles, or her eldest son, Prince William. Yes, although Burrell was initially charged with theft, his trial collapsed in stunning fashion when the Queen delivered a statement in his defense. It seems that she had authorized her former employee to keep the aforementioned 310 objects. After this intervention, all legal action against Burrell was halted.
Figure raising controversy
His private life
However, Burrell’s conduct could be questioned on more occasions. It was discovered during a 2008 inquiry into Diana’s death that the former member of the royal household had covertly duplicated correspondence between the princess and others. However, Burrell upheld his decision because of the “historical relevance” of the documents. Subsequently, there has been some investigation into Burrell’s private life. He and his wife Maria separated in 2016 after 32 years of marriage. A year later, the former butler and his partner, Graham Cooper, tied the knot at the altar for the second time. An insider claimed that Burrell had once confessed to Diana that he was gay.
His Private Life
The Truth
is this true? Burrell has expressed his denial. “Diana and I never talked in depth about my sexuality, but it was something known between us,” he revealed in an interview with OK! magazine in 2020. Let’s be honest, I made stunning floral arrangements, selected her outfits and gave her advice. She was a smart woman and all the clues were there. It’s fair to say that Burrell has given up the limelight, including publishing numerous books about her experiences with the royal family. As well as being a judge on Australian Princess, he has become a regular on reality TV, appearing on shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and Britain’s I’m a Celebrity…. Get Me Out of Here.
The Truth
It was perfect
This made Burrell an excellent royal correspondent for the British television show Lorraine Breakfast. In the days leading up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding, she took on that role, and it seems her relationship with the groom’s mother was instrumental in getting her hired. Since then, Burrell has almost never shied away from expressing her opinions on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The former royal aide described the Suits star as a “strong, independent woman” in an interview for the 2019 British documentary “Kate v. Meghan: Princesses at War.”
It Was Perfect
Built in a large house
Burrell explained that Meghan had married into the most traditional family in the country: the royal family. He then began to draw comparisons to the woman he had been serving for ten years and asked, “How will they work out?” He even lost it, Princess Diana grew up in a house as big as Buckingham Palace. Burrell even said, “Buckingham Palace is a minefield for anyone walking in there for the first time,” suggesting that Meghan would be in trouble if she didn’t follow royal protocol. People set traps and were not very kind to this young newcomer. “Who would want to join that family?”
Built in a big house
Advising
Burrell did, however, offer some words of wisdom to Meghan to help her through the trials and tribulations of being royal. He advised her to get acquainted with Harry’s grandmother, the Queen, who is the most important member of the family. In addition, Diana’s alleged friend advised Meghan to stay as close as possible to her new husband. And since then, Burrell has continued to talk about the royal couple. For example, he was asked about the birth of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie on a May 2019 edition of Good Morning Britain. In response to a question about how Diana would have welcomed her fourth grandchild, she said, “He would be in his element, wouldn’t he?” Meghan’s mother would refuse to show up. She would have been happy.”
Advising
Being protective
Following the premiere of Harry and Meghan: An African Journey on British television in October 2019, Burrell was a guest on the set of Good Morning Britain. In the documentary, the Duke of Sussex says, “My mother clearly taught me a certain set of values that I will always try to uphold – despite the role and the work that sometimes comes with it, if you know what I mean.” Harry went on to say, “Every day, everything that Diana experienced and happened to her is incredibly raw. I’m not paranoid, I just want to avoid repeating the past. And if anyone else knew what I know, whether it’s father, husband or whoever, they’d probably be doing the same thing I’m doing.”
Being Protective
Pursued
Burrell responded to the documentary by telling Good Morning Britain presenters, “I met Harry, he was devastated, and to walk in front of the world behind his mother’s coffin was just appalling.” And that has had a big impact on him. He feels the media hounded her until she died. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Burrell was invited back to Good Morning Britain in January 2020, given his willingness to make such provocative statements. That month, Harry and Meghan had announced that they would be stepping down from their high-ranking royal posts. After the former butler assessed the situation, he again linked Meghan to Diana.
Pursued
Diana’s recommendation
First, Burrell claimed that the couple’s controversial decision would have been approved by their late boss. To viewers, he said, “As I watched all this unfold in the United States, I was reflecting on Diana. She would have advised the boys and told them, “Marry for love,” which is what they have done, “Be respectful and kind to your wife,” which is what they have both done, but also “Be happy.” At the time, Burrell, speaking from his home in Florida, added, “Diana wasn’t [happy], and clearly Meghan and Harry aren’t happy either in the environment they’re in: suffocated by the royal household.” Diana couldn’t bear to marry into the whole family. In addition, she said Diana and Meghan were not afraid to cut off relationships with others when necessary.
Diana’s recommendation
Diana’s ambitions
And Burrell went on to say that Diana intended to leave home. The former royal aide claimed, “She had plans on her living room floor to buy a house in Malibu when she went to the Mediterranean.” is it any surprise that Harry would follow in his mother’s footsteps and his wife’s dreams when he was going to buy such a property? Nevertheless, Burrell chose to show his affection for another of his former employers. He expressed his regret for the Queen, despite being 93 years old. Over the years, our monarch has suffered much and seen many things happen to her family, and she has changed over time.
Diana’s Ambitions
Distanced
Burrell also expressed concern about the prince’s connection to his older brother, adding, “It saddens me that William and Harry don’t have the connection they used to have.” Clearly, after their mother’s death, they remained close and couldn’t be separated. I’m sorry, and his mother would be sad. However, Burrell seemed supportive of the Duchess when Piers Morgan questioned Harry and Meghan’s work ethic on Good Morning Britain. He responded by saying that it’s hard for outsiders to understand what living in a palace entails. You don’t just marry one individual, you marry the whole family. Meghan wasn’t aware of what she was doing. No one can do that.
Distant
A message from the princess
Burrell mentioned a letter he had received from Diana and said, “I saw a letter recently that the princess wrote to me. She wrote to me about her future saying, “I would look up, live, laugh and love.” Also, I think those are touching words for Harry and Meghan. Would Diana have given her approval to her youngest son’s relationship, according to Burrell? “Princess Diana would have wanted her children to be happy and would have supported them unconditionally,” the former butler said in a conversation with CheshireLive in April 2020.
A message from the princess
Harry will not be king
Burrell went on to say that Harry is unlikely to become king, as he is sixth in line to the throne. Why not allow him and Meghan to enjoy their lives? With the Queen’s approval, there is no reason why they should not achieve their goals and be completely autonomous. The following month, Burrell suggested in an interview with Closer that Harry’s wife and his late mother had something in common. According to him, Harry sought out Meghan and married her because she is similar to Diana. Both [are] women who would not be pushovers and would always stand up for what they believe in. However, Burrell said that Meghan and Diana’s similarities could have led to conflicts if the princess were alive.
Harry Will Not Be King
They would be incompatible
Burrell proposed a theory that Diana and Meghan might have clashed. I think they would have been two strong, independent women with different perspectives. It would have been a conflict between Meghan and Diana’s ways. However, he acknowledged that there are several areas in which the couple differed. Burrell acknowledged that the main distinction between them is that Meghan possesses a strategy, whereas Diana was young and naive. Although the princess appears to have used the media to her advantage during her lifetime, her former butler said Meghan did so for different reasons.
They would be incompatible
She didn’t have a voice
Burrell explained that “Diana did the book with Andrew Morton and courted the press for years because she didn’t have a voice.” Her determination indicated her unease and she believed that the people of the country had a right to know what had happened behind closed doors. One could argue that Meghan does too, but I think her media presence is more important to her career. Yes, Burrell seems to think the Duchess of Sussex is much more comfortable selling her public reputation than her late mother-in-law. He added: “We expect to see Meghan on red carpets, with A-list friends and perhaps in movies in the next few years.” Diana was not of that ilk. She had no interest in promoting herself.”
She Had No Voice
His relationship with the press
And what seems to be of particular concern to Burrell is Meghan’s relationship with the press. The former royal aide, for example, told CheshireLive that the duchess and her husband should refrain from any harassment comments. He added: “They should accept being photographed by photographers. They can’t lead a completely isolated life. Burrell had previously expressed his displeasure with Meghan’s supposed love of attention. “The lines are blurring between celebrity and royalty,” he said in a 2019 article for The Sun. Meghan can’t distinguish between them because there is a clear line between them. The Queen has always claimed we are not celebrities. Being royal is very different.”
Her Relationship With The Press
He continued…
Burrell continued, “Meghan can say she doesn’t have to toe the line, but she now has a royal title and she has to give up a lot of things to be a member of the royal family. She can’t eat her cake. We should all wait with bated breath and see how she’s going to progress, in my opinion. The royal family is traversed by a fiery and tempestuous comet. Unlike most of the press, Burrell refuses to believe that the Duchess of Sussex controls every aspect of their relationship. “Meghan is an independent woman who has a mind of her own,” she said in an interview with OK! It may sound like she’s manipulating Harry! I have no doubt they discuss everything and will have another baby soon. As for the baby, she was absolutely right!”
Continued…
A secret letter
Burrell is not only known for his comments about Harry and Meghan, however. In May 2020, he made headlines again by revealing an unpublished letter from Princess Diana. The royal comments on a visit to Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s convent home in the note, which was apparently written in 1992. And although the princess did not meet the saint, Diana appears to have seen the trip as very positive. Diana revealed in a handwritten letter to Burrell: “Today, something very profound has touched my life. I have visited Mother Teresa’s house and found the path I have been seeking for many years. Upon arrival, the sisters sang to me – a very spiritual experience – and my spirit soared to great heights.
A Secret Letter
where is he now?
what is Burrell’s current activity after his retirement from royal circles? Well, she closed her florist business for almost 18 years in 2019 to go on a trip with her husband Cooper. Of the planned excursion, she told the Daily Mail, “I want to take Cooper to the places I’ve been with the Queen and the princess and say, “I remember walking in this place with the Queen on the Great Wall of China.” However, Burrell is not the only one who has come forward with new information about Diana. On the night of the tragic accident that killed the princess, firefighters arrived on the scene intent on saving the royal and her companions. And one member of the emergency crew heard what were likely Diana’s last words, which he ended up sharing years after her death.
Where Is She Now
The accident
At first, Xavier Gourmelon doesn’t know who is involved in a car accident in a Paris tunnel. She moves closer to the fireman as he lifts a blonde woman from the back of the wreckage. She may wish to have a conversation with him. However, Gourmelon has no idea that Princess Diana will talk to the man trying to save her as she does so. Ten firefighters, including Gourmelon, had arrived on the scene at the Pont d’Alma underpass, and the Mercedes-Benz W140 they had found on arrival was largely destroyed. A man who was entering appeared to be deceased as well. Gourmelon therefore rushed to find out who he could really help, and the blonde woman seemed to be the best choice.
The Accident
The tragedy
Gourmelon was stunned to learn that the woman had died in the hospital, given the woman’s relatively stable condition during her stay in the tunnel. The news was compounded when it was discovered that the person in question was Princess Diana. For two decades, the Parisian firefighter chose to keep the princess’s last words to himself unbeknownst to her. However, Diana had been raised near the royal estate of Sandringham and had been part of the British aristocracy long before her tragic death. Later, after failing to excel at school, Winston Churchill’s distant cousin found smaller jobs. However, this fresh-faced young woman soon discovered a wider path, and her life was changed forever.
The Tragedy
Teenager
Diana was only a teenager when she caught the eye of her sister Sarah’s boyfriend Charles, Prince of Wales. Before long, she became the mate of the heir to the British throne. Hundreds of millions of people around the world watched them marry in a glittering ceremony in 1981. Diana, Princess of Wales, should have been the newlywed’s oyster, especially when she discovered she was pregnant. However, Diana’s life was already darkened. She threw herself pregnant down a flight of stairs due to her feelings of inadequacy. Photographers also started chasing her, and even took pictures of her in a bikini while she was pregnant. And she still had even more malcontents.
Teenager
They had affairs
Yes, sadly, what seemed like a fairy tale connection was seemingly insignificant at heart. Both the prince and princess allegedly had affairs, while Diana was experiencing increasing mental problems and had an eating disorder. It seems that the royals felt compelled to break off their marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles, with whom Charles had been in a long-term relationship. The royal couple finally separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Worse, the separation forced Diana to isolate herself, as she seemed to have difficulty keeping close friends. For example, at the time of her death, a Daily Mail reporter claimed that she had no more than five close friends. However, even after the end of her marriage to Charles, Diana’s romantic life continued to thrive.
Had Adventures
Much desired
The young and attractive princess is said to have had many suitors. She is said to have enjoyed affairs with men such as bodyguard Paul Manakee and refined cavalryman James Hewitt while married. It seems she was also forced to end her relationship with James Gilbey, a car salesman, after recordings surfaced revealing that he called her “Squidgy.” Predictably, that particular story attracted the press. However, Diana seemed to have found happiness when she was with heart surgeon Hasnat Khan. Diana sought a life away from publicity, so their romance was conducted in secret. In fact, the princess seems to have told friends that she had never met anyone like Khan. During a visit to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London with a friend, she saw the doctor for the first time.
Much Desired
avoiding the press
According to Vanity Fair, the connection between Khan and Diana was so intense that the possibility of marriage was raised. Although Diana tried to persuade Khan to have a wedding in secret, he refused. Instead, he suggested that they move to Pakistan, where the press could not interfere in their affairs, and Diana reportedly seriously considered the idea. Diana also reportedly confessed her feelings for the surgeon to her friend and current prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. In the end, the love began to falter. And despite that potential disappointment, Diana continued with her engagements, attending the ballet and visiting Mother Teresa before appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair in July 1997.
avoiding the press
An exotic vacation
That same month, Diana received an invitation to spend a vacation in St. Tropez (France) with billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed. She also took her sons, Princes William and Harry, and all the royals to the businessman’s villa. It is said that it was there that Diana’s affair with Al-Fayed’s son Dodi began, as expected. However, the princess had been hounded by photographers who had captured snapshots of her on a jet ski even while she was on vacation. Diana told reporters gathered at an unscheduled press conference that she would surprise them with what she did next. Unfortunately, those words had a dark prophetic meaning.
An exotic vacation
Old acquaintances
Diana had already met Dodi before going to St. Tropez because they had both run with the same people. Al-Fayed’s eldest son, Dodi, had grown up in luxury as one of his offspring. However, he had managed to establish his own career as a film director, excelling especially in the films Chariots of Fire and Hook. Diana therefore ended her relationship with Khan when she returned to London, as the surgeon subsequently reported to the police. She immediately thought she had someone else in her life, perhaps from the Al-Fayed family. Khan informed the princess that he thought the relationship would cause her harm because she had a low opinion of the Egyptian billionaire.
Old Acquaintances
In love with the princess
Although he was already engaged, Dodi seems to be in love with Diana. The business tycoon’s son allegedly gave the royal a Cartier watch, a room full of flowers and tropical fruits to make his intentions clear. In any case, when he and the princess began a relationship, he would eventually see his affection returned. However, the intensity of Diana and Dodi’s romance in the late summer of 1997 is disputed. For example, Vanity Fair reported that Dodi intended to present the princess with a ring. However, Diana appears to have informed her friend Rosa Monckton that she would wear the jewelry on her right hand. Monckton believed that Diana only wanted to make Khan jealous. However, Dodi’s father believed that the ring symbolized the couple’s commitment.
In Love With The Princess
Enjoying her company
Whatever the truth, Diana and Dodi enjoyed being together. The couple opted to take a cruise together to Sardinia at the end of July, though once again the photographers were not far behind. Photos were published of the couple embracing on Dodi’s yacht in August 1997, while Diana participated in an anti-landmine rally in Bosnia. The couple returned to France at the end of the month, this time in Paris, where they stayed at the Ritz Hotel. A 2019 Daily Mirror report claims that Diana stayed in their suite while Dodi went to a jeweler to buy the ring the princess was expecting. Then, on the evening of August 30, 1997, they intended to go for a meal at the prestigious Benoit restaurant.
Enjoying Her Company
Paparazzi
However, after being followed by up to thirty photographers on their way to dinner, the couple changed plans. After returning to the Ritz, they opted to dine at the famous hotel’s L’Espadon restaurant. However, Dodi feared that some of the guests were photographers as they sat down, so he and Diana returned to their room. After dinner, the couple made the decision to spend the night in Dodi’s luxurious apartment, which is located next to the Champs Elysees. However, they had a problem: they had been followed since they left the hotel earlier that evening. In addition, Diana and Dodi were convinced that the photographers were chasing them. As a result, a somewhat complex plan was created.
Paparazzis
A master plan
Even though it was their night off, Henri Paul, the hotel’s deputy head of security, was supposed to take the couple. Paul, Dodi, Diana and bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones would exit through the back of the hotel, while two decoy vehicles would exit through the front. It was the early morning of August 31, 1997. Paul then shot off into the night, but the photographers followed the Mercedes when they learned what was happening. According to the investigation, the paparazzi tried to “block” Paul to stop him, but to no avail. Instead, the limo continued going about 65 mph before tragedy befell its passengers.
A Master Plan
guilty?
Paul lost control of the Mercedes while going through the road tunnel under the Pont d’Alma. The investigation attributes the failure to Paul, who had drunk so much alcohol as to be three times the legal limit for driving, as there was apparently no photographer close enough to have caused this. The vehicle slammed violently into a median pillar. And the collision was vicious and fatal, killing Paul on the spot. Despite the terrible damage, the paparazzi preferred to photograph the wrecked vehicle rather than help the stricken passengers. Fortunately, someone called the emergency services and a fire crew came out from the nearby fire station.
Guilty
The Scene
The officer on duty that night, Gourmelon, was in charge of the rescuers. And in 2017, he would reveal to The Sun exactly what he and his team discovered. “The car was in disarray and we dealt with it as we would any road traffic accident,” Gourmelon explained. We went straight to work to determine who was alive and who needed help. Gourmelon went on to say that in his opinion, it was a common traffic accident – one of many faced by emergency services – and with the typical causes: speed and a drunk driver. And it soon turned out that Paul could not be treated. Gourmelon reported to The Sun that upon reaching the car, he noticed that the driver had already passed away and there was no way to help him.
The Scene
A Tragedy
Unfortunately, for Dodi, things didn’t go much better in the back of the limo. Once he was pulled out, a paramedic informed him that he had suffered a heart attack. However, Rees-Jones also suffered serious injuries, but fortunately survived the accident. Despite being in serious danger, the bodyguard’s main concern seemed to be his princess. Yes, Rees-Jones reportedly asked repeatedly for Diana even though the firefighters needed her to clean up. In the end, Gourmelon informed him that none of the rescuers knew English and that he should try to keep quiet.
A Tragedy
An Unknown
Meanwhile, Gourmelon responded to Diana, whom he could only recognize as an enigmatic “blonde woman”. At first, he thought she should be fine, as she kept her consciousness and eyes open. Although she was lying on the floor, Diana could make some small movements. However, it was time to release her, regardless of her condition. Therefore, Gourmelon gave the princess oxygen and grabbed her hand as he prepared to take her out of the limousine. He later explained to The Sun that the whole time he had no idea who she was. “It was only when they put her in the ambulance that one of the paramedics told me it was Princess Diana,” Gourmelon revealed. The firefighter also revealed what Diana had told him at the time in the newspaper interview.
An Unknown
Last words
Yes, Diana said something, possibly the last word the princess would say as Gourmelon waited on her. She supposedly asked her rescuer, “My God, what happened?” while trapped in the chaos of the wrecked limo. And Gourmelon told The Sun what happened next, although she did not say whether he had answered her question. Gourmelon went on to say, “I gave Diana oxygen and my team and I stayed by her side while they pulled her out of the car.” Because we didn’t have to cut anything out of the wreckage, it was very quick. Sadly, however, the princess suffered a heart attack while on a stretcher.
Last Words
Assistance to the princess
Gourmelon immediately rendered assistance to Diana, which seemed to work at first. According to his statement to The Sun, “I massaged her heart and after a few seconds she started breathing again.” Of course, it was a relief because, as a first responder, you want to save lives, and that’s what I thought I had done. Gourmelon had every reason to think the princess would succeed. For one thing, he could detect no blood on her body and, for another, the only wound he could recognize – the injury to one of her shoulders – did not appear to be serious. Gourmelon might have initially believed that he and his team had prevented Diana from suffering further damage.
Assisting the princess
Being optimistic
As firefighters carried Diana to the ambulance, Gourmelon was positive about her chances, later expressing to The Sun, “I actually thought she would live.” However, the Frenchman received shocking news shortly after the emergency vehicle set off for the Pitié-Salpétrière hospital. Shortly after 2 a.m., Diana arrived at the hospital for surgery. But her struggle ended in failure, despite the doctors’ efforts to keep her alive. The princess died with extensive and invisible injuries, including a ruptured blood vessel near her heart. Gourmelon was not yet done for the night.
Being Optimistic
He had to tell all
After the rescue attempt, the lead firefighter called his wife to let her know what had happened. He told The Sun: “My wife was asleep when I told her about the accident and Princess Diana’s condition. I informed her that he had gone into cardiac arrest, but that I had managed to revive him. Tragically, however, the princess passed away at around 4:00 a.m. In fact, Gourmelon resigned from the fire department after two decades of talking about that unfortunate night in August. Even after years, it seems the memories are still strong. “I can still picture the whole scene,” he told The Sun. It’s something I’ll never forget and something I always think about when it comes to this time of year.”
Was to Tell All