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| Royal Diana plot was 'impossible' | Royal Diana plot was 'impossible' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Princess Diana's former butler has told the inquest into her death it is "impossible" that she was murdered on the orders of the Royal Family. | Princess Diana's former butler has told the inquest into her death it is "impossible" that she was murdered on the orders of the Royal Family. |
| When asked if Prince Charles could have planned her death, Paul Burrell said: "I could not possibly see the father of her children murdering her." | When asked if Prince Charles could have planned her death, Paul Burrell said: "I could not possibly see the father of her children murdering her." |
| Diana's employee of more than 10 years also told the High Court she had considered marrying Hasnat Khan. | Diana's employee of more than 10 years also told the High Court she had considered marrying Hasnat Khan. |
| Mr Burrell said Diana loved the heart surgeon more than "any other man". | Mr Burrell said Diana loved the heart surgeon more than "any other man". |
| He also said that as butler to the princess, he connected Diana's network of friends and had been "at the hub of the wheel". | He also said that as butler to the princess, he connected Diana's network of friends and had been "at the hub of the wheel". |
| Prince Charles was not capable of murdering the Princess - they were cordial towards the end of her life Paul Burrell | Prince Charles was not capable of murdering the Princess - they were cordial towards the end of her life Paul Burrell |
| Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul died in Paris in a car crash in August 1997. | Diana, her companion Dodi Al Fayed and their driver Henri Paul died in Paris in a car crash in August 1997. |
| Mr Burrell's comments about the likelihood of a royal murder plot followed a line of questioning about a note from the princess to him in which she said that her husband Prince Charles was "planning an accident in my car". | Mr Burrell's comments about the likelihood of a royal murder plot followed a line of questioning about a note from the princess to him in which she said that her husband Prince Charles was "planning an accident in my car". |
| Asked by Ian Burnett QC, counsel to the inquest, if he knew of anything to support the idea that Diana and Mr Al Fayed were murdered, Mr Burrell said: "No, I can't begin to believe that. | Asked by Ian Burnett QC, counsel to the inquest, if he knew of anything to support the idea that Diana and Mr Al Fayed were murdered, Mr Burrell said: "No, I can't begin to believe that. |
| "Knowing the members of the Royal Family as I do, and knowing them so well, I think that's impossible." | "Knowing the members of the Royal Family as I do, and knowing them so well, I think that's impossible." |
| Dismissing the suggestion of the Prince of Wales being involved in a murder plot, Mr Burrell said: "The princess always had a great fondness for Prince Charles even after her divorce. | Dismissing the suggestion of the Prince of Wales being involved in a murder plot, Mr Burrell said: "The princess always had a great fondness for Prince Charles even after her divorce. |
| She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan Paul Burrell | She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan Paul Burrell |
| "Prince Charles was not capable of murdering the princess - they were cordial towards the end of her life." | "Prince Charles was not capable of murdering the princess - they were cordial towards the end of her life." |
| Mr Burrell also described a 90-minute meeting with the Queen after Diana's death during which she told him to "be careful" as there were "powers at work in this country". | Mr Burrell also described a 90-minute meeting with the Queen after Diana's death during which she told him to "be careful" as there were "powers at work in this country". |
| It is unclear what the Queen meant and Mr Burrell never asked her to explain the remark, perceiving it to be a "general 'be careful warning' over many issues". | It is unclear what the Queen meant and Mr Burrell never asked her to explain the remark, perceiving it to be a "general 'be careful warning' over many issues". |
| He suggested three possibilities - media bosses, the establishment and the security services. | He suggested three possibilities - media bosses, the establishment and the security services. |
| Earlier, the inquest heard that the "extremely serious relationship" between the princess and Mr Khan had lasted for two years and Mr Khan had been a regular visitor to Kensington Palace until the couple parted in July 1997. | Earlier, the inquest heard that the "extremely serious relationship" between the princess and Mr Khan had lasted for two years and Mr Khan had been a regular visitor to Kensington Palace until the couple parted in July 1997. |
| Hasnat Khan was in a relationship with Diana for two years | Hasnat Khan was in a relationship with Diana for two years |
| When asked by Ian Burnett QC, representing the inquest, whether she had "contemplated" marriage with Mr Khan, the former butler replied: "Yes, she did. | When asked by Ian Burnett QC, representing the inquest, whether she had "contemplated" marriage with Mr Khan, the former butler replied: "Yes, she did. |
| "She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan." | "She asked me if it was possible to arrange a private marriage between her and Hasnat Khan." |
| It is not known whether Mr Khan was aware of these discussions. | It is not known whether Mr Khan was aware of these discussions. |
| Mr Burrell also said he had not been given the impression that her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, was "the one". | Mr Burrell also said he had not been given the impression that her boyfriend, Dodi Al Fayed, was "the one". |
| He described Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed as "a very new friendship which developed into something more". | He described Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed as "a very new friendship which developed into something more". |
| He told the court he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Mr Al Fayed's yacht with her sons, Princes William and Harry at the end of July 1997. | He told the court he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Mr Al Fayed's yacht with her sons, Princes William and Harry at the end of July 1997. |
| Ring dilemma | Ring dilemma |
| Instead, he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked. | Instead, he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked. |
| Mr Burrell also said a ring bought by Mr Al Fayed for the princess was "not an engagement ring, it was a friendship band". | |
| He said that to make sure no-one, including Mr Al Fayed, would be misled into thinking it was anything else, Diana wore it on the fourth finger of her right hand instead of on her left. | He said that to make sure no-one, including Mr Al Fayed, would be misled into thinking it was anything else, Diana wore it on the fourth finger of her right hand instead of on her left. |
| Mr Burrell said she had told him: 'I need marriage like a rash'. | Mr Burrell said she had told him: 'I need marriage like a rash'. |
| He said the couple were definitely not engaged, and rubbished rumours that they had planned to wed, suggesting that Diana was "on the rebound from that relationship". | He said the couple were definitely not engaged, and rubbished rumours that they had planned to wed, suggesting that Diana was "on the rebound from that relationship". |
| 'Healthy banter' | 'Healthy banter' |
| Mr Burrell later told the court he had seen letters between the princess and her father-in-law, the Duke of Edinburgh. | Mr Burrell later told the court he had seen letters between the princess and her father-in-law, the Duke of Edinburgh. |
| The correspondence, written as Diana and the Prince of Wales were divorcing in 1992, was "sharp" but not nasty and reflected "healthy banter" between the two of them, he said. | The correspondence, written as Diana and the Prince of Wales were divorcing in 1992, was "sharp" but not nasty and reflected "healthy banter" between the two of them, he said. |
| He dismissed claims by psychic healer Simone Simmons who said she had seen two letters from Prince Philip around 1994 or 1995 in which he made disparaging remarks. | He dismissed claims by psychic healer Simone Simmons who said she had seen two letters from Prince Philip around 1994 or 1995 in which he made disparaging remarks. |
| "Prince Philip is not known for diplomacy but he certainly wouldn't have written nasty notes to the princess. He was fond of the princess," Mr Burrell said. | "Prince Philip is not known for diplomacy but he certainly wouldn't have written nasty notes to the princess. He was fond of the princess," Mr Burrell said. |
| In 2002 Mr Burrell, who worked for the Royal Family for more than 20 years, was cleared of stealing Diana's possessions after an Old Bailey trial collapsed. | In 2002 Mr Burrell, who worked for the Royal Family for more than 20 years, was cleared of stealing Diana's possessions after an Old Bailey trial collapsed. |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |