A Royal Duty

I'm so glad that everything worked out in the end for him. To be accused of something and then have to be thrust into the spotlight and have everyone judge you must have been terrible for him, his family and the memory of his close relationship with Princess Diana. I'm sure it was hard enough losing her as a friend, confidant and like family member and then to have people turn on you.It was lovely to read about his relationship with the Queen and the Princess.

Enjoyed the book immensely. Paul Burrell gives us an inside view of the real Diana. The letter she wrote to Paul voiced her concerns about her imminent death from a car accident. Why was there no inquest? He always looked out for her best interest. I hope that her boys received all of their mothers jewels. Her brother was disgraceful at the funeral. He wouldn’t help her in life, but was happy to cash in on her death.

We've all probably read and heard a lot of commentary about Diana from a lot of sources, some of it good and some of it not so good. This book is very detailed and is actually a description of first-hand observations, which imo is the most important thing in this case, when such a variety of opinions have been shared about Diana from those who didn't know her well or at all.The book left me with an overall positive opinion about Diana, very similar to the image I had of her years ago when she died, before the Diana-critic revisionists tarred her public image. Naturally, she wasn't perfect, with her biggest faults being her stubbornness and her over-sensitivity to rejection, both of which led her to fall out with multiple people who cared about her, and to miss the chance to take important & helpful advice. But nevertheless, the fun-spirited, warm, glamorous and very caring princess still shines through.The only way the book could have been more illuminating would have been if Burrell had been the Wales's butler for their entire marriage, rather than beginning in the late 80's. That way he would have witnessed and described Charles & Diana's controversial marital breakdown. Burrell gives his opinion on the breakdown, but even he doesn't really know, as their marriage was already on the rocks when he came on board. Oh well.

Loved the book from start to finish. I believe everything he has to say but I think this book was written because of what the British Royal Family put him through with that bogus trial. So many things are being revealed about the Royals it amazes me that the monarchy still exists. As if Camillagate wasn't enough Charles doesn't seem to have the discretion required of a future monarch. Charles' affair with his personal secretary has been a rumor for years and now it's out in the open. But like Burrell, the former employee who revealed the secret of a closet case future king, is having his reputation literally ripped apart by very powerful Palace officials. Burrell has been qouted as saying he has a lot more secrets to reveal and that this book was just the tip of the iceberg. Some speculate this statement was made as his way of insuring he wasn't offed by the Royal family or MI5. If he doesn't write a sequel he will be allowed to live. Sounds like a Royal mafia to me. My only problem with this book.....and it's a BIG problem ....is the fact that Burrell did NOT reveal who Diana suspected would attempt to assasinate her. If he really wanted justice he wouldn't settle for a set of British inqusitions that are not going to turn up a thing. He would have shown true devotion to Diana by seeing that her killers brought to justice. It's too much of a coincedence that this letter that predicted the future is not valid evidence of an obvious conspiracy. The powers that be will cover up this assasination at any cost. If the public finds out the Royal family, MI5, and the CIA were involved the public outrage would topple the monarchy. So maybe Burrell knew exactly what he was doing. If they go down because of him they would take him down with them for sure. I also do not think he was simply motivated by money even though he has made a fortune from writing this book. Everyone else has written their version of Diana's life so why shouldn't the person closest to her do the same? Burrell didn't sugarcoat anything. He managed to point out Diana's pluses and minuses instead of trying to sully her reputaion by declaring she was mentally ill (I tend to wonder if Charles' camp had something to do with that rumor?)! And as far as his being in love with her....here's a newsflash folks....the whole world was in love with her so to criticize him is just hypocritical. Every true Diana fan should read this and get an insight into a woman that will live in my heart forever!

A very big thank you to NURSE M. Because of your glowing review of Paul Burrell's new book about Princess Diana, I am certainly going to buy it. I truly loved and admired Diana, not because she was a Princess, but because she was someone who truly cared about people and showed that in everything she did. Although she was terribly unhappy in her personal life, she always put on a smiling face for everyone she met in public, and this must have been very diffucult to do. Though she should have gotten this sort of love and admiration from inside her family, she did not, so it is nice to know that at least she was able to feel loved by people outside of her family. Most likely this is the only thing that saved her from total despair. I truly miss the Princess, and even though it has been 6 years since her death, I am still brought to tears when I think of how she must have died. To this day I have never believed it was an "accident", unless it was a very carefully planned accident, which I will always believe it was, until someone comes up with Concrete Evidence that it was not. Too bad her boys have to live without the mother they loved so dearly, just because someone wanted to do away with a wonderful person, to further their own selfish needs. I look forward to reading the book, and to the day when someone can prove How and Why Diana died?

A very good read. Encompasses her story, her joys and her sadness. A holistic novel looking from the inside of her world.

You'd better not believe what you heard about this book until you actually read this book. Sincerity of the author, who'd been the closest to the princess, is deeply felt EVERYWHERE as pages is being turned.But maybe one small question might remain in you. Why NOW? Why 6years after tragic accident? Author was arrested by Scotland Yard for THEFT!!...being accused of robbing the very princess he most admired and cared for on this planet. Yes, he MUST write this book. NOW. To get back his integrity as well as Princess's.You can't find in this book if there's kind of conspiracy in the accident but still it's worth reading, VERY touching story.

A good read, may be a little one sided but if you are a Princess Diana fan you still enjoy it.There’s lots of stories that you’ve heard before but still enjoyed hearing them again.

ダイアナ妃に関する一連の報道に対して、何がおきていたのかよくわからなかったのですが、この本を読んで理解が進みました。著者は、エリザベス女王に元々使えていた方で、信頼も扱った人です。ダイアナ妃のたっての希望で、チャールズ皇太子の執事になり、さらにダイアナ妃の執事になりました。ダイアナ妃のことは、宮殿にやってきたときからご存知で、著者の奥様も宮殿で働いておりとりわけダイアナ妃と仲がよく、自宅に何度も遊びにこられたような間柄です。面白いのは、たまたま母親がきているときにダイアナ妃が立ち寄ったことがあるそうです。母親は、びっくりして家から外に出てしまいました。王女と同じ場所にいることが失礼に当たると思ったらしいのです。すぐに中に入ってもらって写真などを一緒に写したのですが、ダイアナ妃はこういう人でした。この本では、王宮の中の暮らしぶりは描かれますが、一言で言えば王族の暮らしに庶民が溶け込むのは容易なことではないということです。ダイアナ妃は、スペンサー家という王家の重臣の家柄だそうですが、彼女にしてそうです。国民に人気があったのは、王家とは違った自由の肌合いを感じ取っていたのではないでしょうか。最後の２章が、著者が巻き込まれた裁判に対する記述になっています。読み終えて、皇太子を愛し続けようとしたダイアナ妃の悲しみが感じられました。著者は、ダイアナ妃に関して誤ったイメージの修正をしたかったのではないかとも思えました。ダイアナ妃が嫁いで以降、お亡くなりになるまでの日々を記録した内容です。読み終えて、雅子様のことを連想しました。プリンセスとは、大変なお立場であることがよくわかります。

A book I simply couldn't put down.Its a wonderful story of the life as Princess Dianas loyal friend, trusted butler and companion.Thank you for sharing your special memories and relationship in this treasured book.