Bio
Paul Burrell, RVM is a former member of the Royal Household. He was a footman for Queen Elizabeth II and later butler to Diana, Princess of Wales. He became a source of controversy as a pivotal figure in events related to Diana's divorce and (later) death, and the aftermath of these.
Since that time, approximately 1997, Burrell has from time to time featured in the media, sometimes prominently, in connection with Diana, and since 2004 as an occasional entertainment show celebrity.
Allegations of criminal conduct were raised - in particular in 2002 - and intermittently suggested since, but whilst tried, no case was sustained. Public opinion is mixed, with Burrell both enjoying interest within television and other media and also being the target of hate.
Burrell holds the Royal Victorian Medal, which he was awarded in November 1997 for services to the Royal Family.
Burrell is married to Maria Cosgrove, who used to work for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The pair met at a car boot sale in Rotherham. They have two sons, Alexander and Nicholas, and a West Highland Terrier named Belle.
When they married in 1983, established precedent dictated that one of them would have to give up their job with the Royal Family, but Queen Elizabeth II made an exception for them, allowing both to remain in Royal service.
Burrell was born in Chesterfield in 1958 and grew up in Grassmoor, Derbyshire, a coal-mining community in North England.
His father was a truck driver and it was initially assumed that Burrell would go to work in the local colliery, but had decided aged eight years that he wanted to work at Buckingham Palace after a trip to London with his family, where he witnessed the Changing of the Guard.
He attended William Rhodes secondary school in Chesterfield and left aged 16 with six O-Levels before attending High Peak College in Buxton where he studied hotel management.
He entered Royal Service at age 18, as a Buckingham Palace footman, becoming the Queen's personal footman a year later. He was nicknamed "Little Paul", to distinguish him from a taller footman, who was known as "Big Paul".
According to his autobiography, he had received a simultaneous job offer from cruise line Cunard but his mother had burned it to prevent him from working on ships.
In 1987 Burrell joined the household of heir to the throne Charles and Diana at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, where he acted as butler to the princess until her death in August 1997. He was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in November 1997 for services to the Royal Family.
Since the death of Diana, and the 10-year gradual unfolding of the matter leading to a Coroner's Court in 2007-2008, Burrell has been routinely mentioned in the context of Diana, and has gained a measure of renown in the media.
At times the coverage has been adverse, for example in a 2002 case where he was charged with theft related to Diana's possessions.
The trial collapsed after evidence was given that the Queen had spoken with him regarding disputed events, and a Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate was presented by the Crown Prosecution Service on the basis that disclosure of certain information would be harmful to the public interest.
In January 2008 Burrell appeared as a witness at the Inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Burrell said that he had approached a Catholic priest about a private marriage between Diana and the heart surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan and he rubbished rumours that Diana was about to announce her engagement to Dodi Fayed.
He was also questioned about a letter to him from Diana in October 1993, in which she said her husband was planning to have her killed to make the path clear for him to marry Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
The coronor dismissed notions of a "secret" that Burrell knew about Diana that he swore he "would never reveal", as detailed at the end of his book, A Royal Duty.
A number of other matters were discussed in relation to this case, many alleged and not proven. These included allegations of perjury at the coroners court and allegations regarding his personal life.
Burrell stated he would not return to court for fear of being embarrassed and humiliated by the possible questioning.
On the 18th February 2008 The Sun newspaper reported that Burrell had admitted, on tape, that he had not told "the whole truth" during his appearance at the Diana inquest, he also said he had thrown in a "few red herrings".
In 2003, Burrell released his autobiographical book, A Royal Duty, which follows his career as a member of the Royal Family's staff, deals in detail with his time as butler to the Prince and Princess of Wales at their home at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, his move to Diana's staff at Kensington Palace after her divorce from Prince Charles, and his acquittal on serious theft charges against him.
The book was an international bestseller, and was updated in a paperback edition in 2004.
Also in 2004, he placed as runner up in the ITV reality TV show, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. He also had arguments reported related to his discussions with journalist Janet Street-Porter, regarding his prediliction for talking about the British Royal Family.
In 2005, he became a judge and trainer on first American Princess then Australian Princess, and in March 2006, appeared on Countdown in Dictionary Corner.
In early 2006, Paul appeared as the actor Richard Gere on ITV's Celebrity Stars in their Eyes, singing "Razzle Dazzle" from the hit movie Chicago.
In September 2006 he appeared on Channel Five's Trust Me - I'm A Holiday Rep, joining as a substitute for leaver Samantha Rowley.