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British former butler Paul Burrell poses for the media outside London's High Court, in central London, 14 January 2008, during the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. (Photo credit: SHAUN CURRY/AFP via Getty Images)Photo by Shaun Curry/AFP /Getty Images
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Tit for tat?
Princess Diana’s former butler has taken aim at Prince Harry and his royals-bashing book.
Paul Burrell appeared on Australian morning show Sunrise after Harry accused Burrell of “milking” his mother’s death in his own 2003 book, A Royal Duty.
“I first met him in his mummy’s tummy,” Burrell said via satellite from his Florida home, according to the Daily Mail. “I don’t recognize the young man I see today. That’s not the boy I knew.”
Burrell, who also served as footman to the late Queen Elizabeth, described Harry as “an angry, petulant, privileged prince who is constantly blaming other people and not taking accountability on his part.”
He, like many, blamed Harry’s wife, Meghan, for the ginger duke’s “vindictive” behaviour, claiming she is the one in control and that the former Suits actress’ “huge influence” is why he wrote the book.
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“She’s beside him steering him on his path,” he accused. “You can’t just blame Harry. You have to blame the both of them.”
As for what Diana would think of what her youngest son is doing and what he has become, “appalled” is the word that sprang to mind.
“She would be angry at these personal, vindictive revelations which don’t just undermine Harry, but his country, his family, the institution – which his mother was very proud of – and his late grandmother’s legacy.”
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Burrell also doesn’t agree with how Prince William and Princess Kate were portrayed in Spare.
“I don’t like to see the rug being pulled beneath the feet of our King and Harry’s brother, who is on his way to being King,” he defended. “And the snipes that have gone forward about Kate… [she] has never put a foot wrong.”
He added: “But the other side of the story will never be heard because the royals believe there’s great dignity in silence.”
In Spare, Harry revealed he was 19 and working as a farmhand in Australia when he learned of Burrell’s book.
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He recalled receiving a package from Buckingham Palace, which was full of memos from the Palace communications team about “a delicate matter.”
“Mummy’s former butler had penned a tell-all which actually told nothing,” Harry wrote. “It was merely one man’s self-justifying, self-centring version of events.”
Harry detailed that he wanted to fly home to “confront” Burrell but Charles and William talked him out it, saying all they could do was “issue a united condemnation.”
He disagreed, didn’t want anything to do with the statement, adding if given the opportunity, he would have “gone much further.”
“My mother once called this butler a dear friend, trusted him implicitly. We did too. Now this,” he seethed. “He was milking her disappearance for money. It made my blood boil.”
Some would argue this is a prime example of pot calling the kettle black.
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Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.