Burrell pulls out of Diana memorial opening

Last updated at 09:33 02 June 2004


Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell is pulling out of the opening of a memorial for the princess, to avoid marring the occasion with the spectacle of coming face-to-face with her sons.

It has been reported that Mr Burrell felt it would be "inappropriate" to attend and risk the event being eclipsed in the media by a meeting with Princes William and Harry who have previously accused him of a "cold and overt betrayal".

Mr Burrell told the newspaper: "After much soul-searching and with a heavy heart I have reluctantly decided to withdraw in their interests."

Yesterday, Mr Burrell revealed that he had not yet received an invitation to the opening of the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial fountain next month - and he had not decided whether to attend.

The ex-royal servant said he "supposed" he would receive an invite as a member of the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial committee.

New chapter in book

It was reported at the weekend that Mr Burrell was on the invitation list for the July unveiling of the £3 million memorial next to the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

It was said that William and Harry were due to attend the ceremony.

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which is responsible for invitations to the event, said: "My understanding is that the invitations will go out at some point this week."

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Last week it was revealed that Mr Burrell wrote in a new chapter to his bestselling book, A Royal Duty, that the Princess believed the Prince of Wales was given permission by his father to return to Camilla Parker Bowles after five years of marriage.

Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997, claimed that Charles declared during a row that the Duke of Edinburgh said he could return to Camilla if the relationship did not work, according to Mr Burrell.

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