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| Queen had 'concerns' over Diana | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Queen was "concerned" about the future because of Princess Diana's relationship with Dodi Al Fayed, an inquest has heard. | |
| Former royal butler Paul Burrell said she had expressed her concerns in a meeting held weeks after Diana died. | |
| He told the court: "Her majesty was concerned that the princess was rather over-excited." | |
| Mr Burrell is giving evidence for a third day at the High Court inquest into the death of Princess Diana. | |
| The princess and Dodi Al Fayed died after a car crash in a Paris road tunnel in 1997. | |
| Union fears | |
| Ian Croxford QC, representing the Ritz Hotel, asked if the Queen was "concerned about the start of a long-term union with Dodi Al Fayed". | |
| Mr Burrell replied: "Her Majesty was concerned about the future." | |
| Mr Croxford then asked: "And a marriage?" | |
| Mr Burrell said: "No, the Queen did not mention that." | |
| Mr Burrell also told the court that he kept quiet about Dodi Al Fayed giving Diana a ring shortly before they died in Paris. | |
| In 2003 the former butler wrote in his book that all he knew of the gift was from a conversation during 1997. | In 2003 the former butler wrote in his book that all he knew of the gift was from a conversation during 1997. |
| He said he had advised Diana to wear any ring on her right hand to avoid giving the impression she was engaged. | He said he had advised Diana to wear any ring on her right hand to avoid giving the impression she was engaged. |
| But he revealed at her inquest that he had picked up a ring with Diana's possessions shortly after her death. | But he revealed at her inquest that he had picked up a ring with Diana's possessions shortly after her death. |
| Paul Burrell worked closely with Princess Diana | |
| Michael Mansfield QC, representing Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed, accused Mr Burrell of "lying" in his book A Royal Duty about the ring. | Michael Mansfield QC, representing Dodi's father Mohamed Al Fayed, accused Mr Burrell of "lying" in his book A Royal Duty about the ring. |
| Mr Burrell replied that this was a "strong" term. | |
| "The reason I didn't include it in A Royal Duty was that I didn't feel I had to at the time," he told the court in London. | "The reason I didn't include it in A Royal Duty was that I didn't feel I had to at the time," he told the court in London. |
| But Mr Burrell provided more detail about the ring in a subsequent book, The Way We Were, written a few years later. | But Mr Burrell provided more detail about the ring in a subsequent book, The Way We Were, written a few years later. |
| "So much was being said about the Princess I only had to dispel the... myth," he said. | "So much was being said about the Princess I only had to dispel the... myth," he said. |
| Mr Burrell again insisted that Diana was still in love with surgeon Hasnat Khan in the run-up to her death on 31 August, 1997. | Mr Burrell again insisted that Diana was still in love with surgeon Hasnat Khan in the run-up to her death on 31 August, 1997. |
| "I knew that she would not get engaged," he said. | "I knew that she would not get engaged," he said. |
| 'Establishment concerns' | 'Establishment concerns' |
| Mr Mansfield replied: "You may like to think you knew that but actually you really don't know, do you?" | Mr Mansfield replied: "You may like to think you knew that but actually you really don't know, do you?" |
| Mr Burrell said: "I don't know." | Mr Burrell said: "I don't know." |
| The former butler agreed with Mr Mansfield that there were "concerns" in the "establishment" in the summer of 1997 about Diana's closeness to the Fayed family. | The former butler agreed with Mr Mansfield that there were "concerns" in the "establishment" in the summer of 1997 about Diana's closeness to the Fayed family. |
| Those concerns also apparently applied to her "political" activities on landmines. | Those concerns also apparently applied to her "political" activities on landmines. |
| Mr Burrell also disagreed with Mr Mansfield's suggestion that the Duke of Edinburgh had called Dodi Al Fayed an "oily bedhopper". | Mr Burrell also disagreed with Mr Mansfield's suggestion that the Duke of Edinburgh had called Dodi Al Fayed an "oily bedhopper". |
| Mr Burrell said: "I've never heard that phrase. I find that very unlikely". | Mr Burrell said: "I've never heard that phrase. I find that very unlikely". |
| The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |