Burrell didn’t think royal talk details vital

FORMER royal butler Paul Burrell has spoken out from his secret hideaway to say that he had not revealed the details of his conversation with Queen Elizabeth because he had “never realised” what he told her could clear his name.

In a conversation with the BBC’s royal correspondent, Nicholas Witchell, Mr Burrell is reported to have said that he had assumed that the details of any conversation he had with Queen Elizabeth should always remain confidential.

Mr Burrell had mentioned to police in various statements that he had held a private meeting with Queen Elizabeth, but had not referred to what was said.

He had been concerned about what was happening to documents belonging to Diana, Princess of Wales following her death.

Mr Witchell said Mr Burrell had told him the words he used to Queen Elizabeth in relation to those documents were: “I’m sorry your Majesty I am going to keep these things safe.”

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace was under pressure to explain why Queen Elizabeth took so long to reveal that Mr Burrell had told her he was safeguarding some of Diana’s personal possessions. The disclosure at the Old Bailey on Friday that he had informed the monarch in the days following the princess’s death that he was holding some of her papers led to the collapse of the prosecution against him.

Mr Burrell’s personal manager and media representative, Dave Warwick, yesterday said he had been inundated with e-mails from media organisations around the world requesting interviews. Speculation abounds over to what extent the man Diana described as her “rock” would decide to accept any of the offers, one of which is thought to be involve a payment of £1 million.

While Mr Burrell was recovering from his ordeal at a secret hideaway with his family in the north of England, Mr Warwick described the media frenzy over his story.

“When I got into the office this morning I had 300 e-mails,” Mr Warwick said.

“I have had inquiries from New Zealand, Germany and America as well as regional and national newspapers in the UK.”

Two unnamed daily newspapers are thought to be the favourites to “buy-up” Mr Burrell’s story. A source said: “The bids are flying in and one is around the £1 million mark. Lesser stories have gone for hundreds of thousands of pounds, so imagine what this one is worth.”

PR guru Max Clifford said Mr Burrell’s “unique insight” into the monarchy, accumulated during years of service, is “worth millions.”

“Every publisher would be desperate for Paul Burrell’s book.

“He has a unique insight into the monarchy and what went on behind the scenes,” he said.