Burrell’s message to princes: ‘grow up’
Former royal butler Paul Burrell has stated that it is time for Princes William and Harry to ‘grow up’
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Burrell, whose book A Royal Duty is out on Monday, said he would like to give the young princes ‘a piece of his mind’.
He admitted that he would never have written the controversial book, which contains copies of personal letters from Diana and the Royal Family, had he received ‘just one phone call’.
Mr Burrell claims he received no contact from Buckingham Palace or the princes after the collapse of his theft trial at the Old Bailey last year.
He told Fiona Bruce for BBC One’s Real Story, due to be shown tonight: “Having served the Royal Family for 21 years, is one phone call too much? It’s not.”
The former butler added that he decided to write the book after the “process got hold of me and squeezed me and made me someone different.”
Mr Burrell expressed his hurt at the princes’ attack on him, when they accused him of a “cold and overt betrayal of their mother.”
He claimed that William and Harry were being used as “emotional cannons by the grey men in suits” at the Palace.
“We have to grow up and get on with it and the boys now are adults. They’re not children anymore and their mother will be talked about,” he said.
The former royal aide insisted that his book was a tribute to the princess, and denied he was publishing it in revenge for facing theft charges last year.
A spokeswoman for Clarence House told Real Story: “The princess’s sons have made a very strong statement. There is nothing further to add to that.”
It has been reported that the princes are prepared to meet with Mr Burrell, but is unclear whether the two sides will hold discussions.
