In a remarkably candid and emotional intervention, Paul Burrell, the devoted former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, has launched a searing critique of her youngest son, Prince Harry. Mr Burrell, who was famously described by Diana as her 'rock', alleges that the Duke's public actions and revelations represent a profound betrayal of his mother's most cherished values.
The rupture stems from passages in Harry's memoir, Spare, where he appeared to question the unique bond between his mother and the man who served her. This perceived dismissal has cut Mr Burrell deeply, prompting him to break his silence in a powerful defence of the princess's legacy.
'She Would Be Ashamed'
Speaking with raw emotion, Burrell did not mince his words. He stated that the Diana he knew and loved would have been 'ashamed' of her son's behaviour. He painted a picture of a woman whose life's work was built on discretion, compassion, and a fierce desire to protect her boys from the very public glare that Harry now actively courts.
'Her mantra was all about privacy and kindness,' Burrell explained, 'values that Harry has seemingly abandoned on a global stage.' He expressed his heartbreak at witnessing the prince 'trash the institution' his mother once sought to modernise with grace.
A Mother's Legacy Versus a Son's Path
At the core of Burrell's anguish is the conviction that Harry's current path is a direct insult to Diana's memory. He recalled her meticulous efforts to raise her sons with an understanding of the world beyond palace gates, to ground them with a sense of normalcy and duty.
Burrell argues that Harry's decision to step back from royal life and then publicly detail private family conflicts in books and television interviews is the antithesis of everything Diana stood for. He believes her greatest fear was her children being damaged by the system; a fear he now sees being realised in a way she never could have imagined.
The former butler's words carry the weight of a man who was entrusted with Diana's most intimate secrets. His public stance highlights the deep and painful divisions that persist, suggesting that the wounds opened by Harry and Meghan's departure are far from healed for those who knew Diana best.
