Diana's ex-butler to stand trial

Paul Burrell has been committed to stand trial at the Old Bailey accused of stealing from the Royal Family.

The former butler to Princess Diana will stand trial on January 10 next year.

Burrell, 43, whom Diana described as "my rock", was committed for trial in a 15-minute hearing before Bow Street magistrates.

He is charged with three counts of theft which relate to 302 items belonging to Diana's estate, 22 items belonging to Prince William and four items belonging to the Prince of Wales.

Burrell was close to tears at the end of the hearing.

He was remanded on conditional bail and was told by District Judge Timothy Workman to report to the Central Criminal Court on January 10.

Burrell, of Farndon, Chester, was arrested on suspicion of theft in January this year.

The items are alleged to have been stolen between January 1, 1997 and June 30, 1998 from Kensington Palace.

They include personal photographs and negatives, crockery, jewellery, CDs, hats, cards and letters.

Among these, it was alleged, were letters from Diana to Prince William, signed: "Mummy".