# Re the weird court case with Princess Diana's butler - What's really going on?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-weird-court-case-with-princess-dianas-butler-whats-really-going-on/135060>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 3, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-weird-court-case-with-princess-dianas-butler-whats-really-going-on/135060 "2002-11-03T03:16:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-weird-court-case-with-princess-dianas-butler-whats-really-going-on/135060/1 "2002-11-03T03:16:07Z")

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Per the story below why didn’t the Queen just stop his prosecution on Day one? Why did she wait until the 11th hour to tell the court her testimony acquitting him of the crime he was accused of?

What’s really going on?

[What the Butler saw](http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12332938&method=full&siteid=86024)

> [@](#):
>
> Burrell, 44, was sensationally cleared on Friday of stealing the belongings of the tragic princess, after a dramatic last-minute intervention by the Queen. But pals have told Burrell he owes the Royal Family nothing after his 21- month nightmare.
> 
> One said: “The Queen could have stopped this ludicrous prosecution on day one. Instead, she waits until it is clear that Paul will have to go into the witness box to clear himself before intervening. It beggars belief that she did not know the significance of what he told her about taking some of Diana’s belongings for safekeeping after her death. He and his family have gone through hell and it was all totally needless. The Queen could have spared him this nightmare and save taxpayers the £1.5million it cost to prosecute him. He is a loyal man but he owes them nothing but contempt.”

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**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-weird-court-case-with-princess-dianas-butler-whats-really-going-on/135060/2 "2002-11-03T03:39:33Z")

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The royal family didn’t want him spilling any beans on the stand re: Diana or other royals. And anything that comes out from the “loyal” retainer’s mouth might discredit the monarchy. At this point, QE2 and crew know that if they want to retain any sense of relevancy, they need to stay in the best light and out of the tabloid pages. Public trials would only drag them through the mud.

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**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-weird-court-case-with-princess-dianas-butler-whats-really-going-on/135060/3 "2002-11-03T04:22:58Z")

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So do we all believe that Diana _really_ gave him all that stuff (a house-full, from what I’ve read) for safekeeping? Most of it personal Royal stuff which is worth a fortune on the collector’s market?

I’m finding it difficult to believe Burrell is completely innocent of theft, and wondering exactly what the Queen didn’t want to come out at trial. Perhaps we’ll soon see anyway.

But as the linked article says (and as other reports have said) if the Queen derailed this case for her personal gain, it represents a serious constitutional crisis. If the Queen has any brains, Burrell must be innocent. Unless, of course, she is brainless. I can’t believe _that_.