Paul Burrell: Diana's Rock

COMING SOON!

Diana's controversial 'rock' presents his side of the story in a video diary charting his turbulent courtcase. Brutally honest, often surprising, always compelling.

Biography

Curious

Quotes

1 2 3

NEXT >>

Paul Burrell
born: 08-06-1958
birth place: Grassmere, Derbyshire

A day trip to see the Changing of the Guards with his parents at the age of twelve sparked off Paul Burrell’s ambition to work for the Royal Family. Six years later he achieved that goal after attending a college course in Buxton, which eventually landed him a job at the palace in 1976.

The son of a Derbyshire lorry driver, Burrell first entered the limelight thanks to his position as Lady Diana Spencer’s butler in the early 80’s.

His good looks and charming, if not obsequious, manner soon garnered him his own fan base and entry into celebrity magazines.

In 1984 he married Maria, a co-employee of the royal household and maid to Prince Philip. Four years later the couple moved to work at Highgrove and had two sons who also became friends with Prince Charles and Lady Diana's own children.

Throughout the years, and particularly during the much publicised marriage spats between Diana and Prince Charles, Paul remained a loyal confidant to the princess. Diana often referred to him as her ‘rock’ and once said that he was the only thing she wanted to salvage from her broken marriage.

However, it was the tragic car accident in Paris on the 31st August 1997, resulting in the death of the princess and close friend Dodi Fayed, that propelled the self-effacing Burrell under the spotlight of new celebrity status.

Months after Diana's burial, the Queen awarded him the Royal Victorian Medal for 21 years of service to the royal family. He immediately took on an honorary role of Diana's protector in image and memory, and was appointed a member of the committee for the Diana Memorial Fund.

In 1999, after having been bombarded with offers to work for movie stars he penned ‘Entertaining With Style’ - a tome utilising his royal know-how and connections. He also joined Channel 5 to present royal gossip and cookery on the programme Open House.

But if Mr Burrell’s resignation from the memorial fund in 1998 had been seen as an isolated hiccup in an otherwise charmed life, the arrival of the new Millennium saw his glamorous lifestyle turned upside down in the most unexpected way imaginable.

1 2 3

NEXT >>