Just when the Royal Family thought they’d heard the last from Paul Burrell, the former royal butler is making headlines all over again.
Known to the public not only for his close relationship with Princess Diana but also for his controversial court trial and stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Burrell is preparing to release yet another tell-all memoir.
And this time, it’s being touted as his most revealing yet.
From Footman to Diana’s Right Hand
Paul Burrell first stepped into royal life as a footman for the Queen.
In 1987, he joined the household of Prince Charles and Princess Diana at Highgrove House, eventually becoming Diana’s personal butler.
Their bond grew strong, and Diana even described him as her “rock.” He remained with her until her death in 1997.
But that bond didn’t carry over to her sons. In fact, after Diana’s death, both Prince William and Prince Harry were left deeply hurt by Burrell’s actions—particularly when he published his 2003 memoir A Royal Duty.
They accused him of betraying their mother’s trust by sharing private details of her life with the world.
A New Book with Fresh Claims
Fast forward to 2025, and Burrell is getting ready to share even more.
His upcoming memoir, The Royal Insider, is set to be released in September, and it reportedly dives deep into never-before-heard stories about life behind palace walls.
According to publisher Sphere, Burrell waited until after Queen Elizabeth II’s death to truly open up.
The book will include his reflections on the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage and the complicated dynamic he had with William and Harry.
With a photo of himself and Diana on the cover, the memoir is being marketed as an “intimate” look at royal life—and royal watchers are bracing for impact.
The Trial That Nearly Destroyed Him
Burrell’s relationship with the Royal Family took a dramatic turn in 2001 when he was arrested.
Police raided his home and uncovered hundreds of royal items—everything from Diana’s clothes and signed photos to school notes she wrote for William.
The stash, reportedly worth around £5 million, raised serious questions.
Burrell claimed Diana had given him those possessions, but the authorities believed otherwise.
He was formally charged with stealing 310 items from Kensington Palace.
The heart of the case rested on whether he had ever told anyone he had taken the belongings for safekeeping.
The Queen’s Forgotten Conversation Changed Everything
In a surprising twist, it was revealed that Burrell had, in fact, spoken to the Queen shortly after Diana’s death.
He told her he had some of the Princess’s papers, and she agreed he should keep them safe.
But the Queen wasn’t aware he was on trial until she passed by the Old Bailey in October 2002 and asked why there were crowds outside.
Prince Charles explained, and the memory of that conversation suddenly came rushing back to her.
Once this was relayed to the prosecution, they realized their case was built on a false assumption—that Burrell had never mentioned the items to anyone.
With this new revelation, the trial was thrown out, and Burrell walked free on November 1, 2002.
Princes William and Harry Were Furious
Even though Burrell was legally in the clear, William and Harry were furious about the public attention and perceived betrayal.
Harry, in particular, expressed deep anger in his memoir Spare.
He recalled how he found out about A Royal Duty while working on a farm in Australia.
A package from the Palace arrived, filled with notes from royal aides about the “delicate” situation.
Harry was livid. He wrote that Burrell’s book was nothing but “one man’s self-justifying, self-centring version of events.”
He said the man his mother once trusted had used her memory for money—and that it made his “blood boil.”
The Royal Rift Continues
Despite the fallout, Burrell has remained defiant.
Responding to Harry’s remarks during an Australian TV interview, he said he didn’t even recognize the man Harry had become.
He described the Duke of Sussex as “an angry, petulant, privileged prince,” accusing him of always blaming others and refusing to take responsibility.
The feud isn’t new. Before Burrell’s first book even hit shelves, William and Harry issued a rare joint statement calling it a “cold and overt betrayal.”
These days, the brothers are barely on speaking terms, so another unified response to Burrell’s latest memoir seems unlikely—but the emotional wounds are clearly still fresh.
A Lifetime of Royal Memoirs
This upcoming book will be Burrell’s fifth royal-themed release. His previous titles include:
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Entertaining with Style (1999)
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In the Royal Manner: Butler to Diana (1999)
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A Royal Duty (2003)
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The Way We Were: Remembering Diana (2007)
Now, The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana is set to hit shelves on September 11, 2025—and with it, yet another chapter in the ever-complicated relationship between Burrell and the Royal Family.
What Happens Next?
As the countdown to the book launch begins, all eyes will be on how the Royal Family—particularly William and Harry—respond.
Will they break their silence? Or will they ignore Burrell’s latest revelations and continue to distance themselves from a man they once trusted?
One thing’s certain: Burrell isn’t done telling his side of the story.
And whether people view him as a loyal servant or a self-serving opportunist, he’s once again found himself back where he’s most comfortable—right in the middle of royal drama.