Palace locks staff into new secrets contract

Last updated at 14:02 24 June 2004


Buckingham Palace is spending thousands of pounds locking staff into new confidentiality contracts in an attempt to stem the tide of leaks about the private lives of the Royals. It follows numerous torrid stories from the likes of Diana's former butler Paul Burrell.

Legal bills funded from the Civil List rocketed by £125,000 last year to cover one-off costs for new staff contracts and increases in insurance premiums, according to Buckingham Palace's annual public finance accounts.

It is part of a review to clamp down on potential leaks about the private lives of the Royals.

It is understood the contracts are being rolled out among all the staff, including those working for the Prince of Wales.

Public scandals

The move comes after numerous public scandals including revelations from undercover Daily Mirror reporter Ryan Parry, who got a job at Buckingham Palace, as well as Paul Burrell's controversial autobiography.

Burrell claimed after the collapse of his theft trial at the Old Bailey in 2002 that he would never betray Diana's confidence. Shortly afterwards he sold his story to a newspaper and wrote his highly damaging book.

It included a letter written by Diana which claimed there was a plot to kill her in a car accident, and also revealed that she had accused Prince Charles of an affair with nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.

Further revelations included the fact 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.

Devastated Princes William and Harry accused Burrell, once a trusted servant, of a "cold and overt betrayal".

Other scandals

The Palace was also forced to hold a crisis summit in November 2002 after one of Prince Charles's closest aides was forced to publicly deny raping another male servant.

Charles was said to be "shattered" and "in deep despair" after being told that his ex-valet George Smith had gone on record claiming he had been raped.

New contracts

As a result of all the scandals, staff from every level up to the Lord Chamberlain are having to sign new contracts whose wording has been strengthened to avoid legal loopholes which enabled previous leaks to go unpunished.

Under the new regime confidentiality is key.

It is strongly worded in the new contracts that staff are signing a personal agreement with the Sovereign and anyone breaching it will have to hand over any money earned to charity.

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