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CNN Live At Daybreak
Princess Diana's Butler Denies Stealing Belongings
Aired August 17, 2001 - 07:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: As we reported a little bit earlier here, the former butler of Princess Diana is denying charges that he stole hundreds of items from her, Prince Charles and Prince William.
CNN's Matthew Chance covered this morning's court appearance and joins us with the latest -- Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, intense public interest, not just here in Britain, but around the world. Remember, this was a man with unmatched access to both the public and the private lives of Princess Diana, and I think that's really reflected in the kinds of items that police say they seized from Paul Burrell's property earlier this week.
We're talking about a lot of family photographs, pictures of the late Princess Diana on family holidays around the world, also pictures with her and her youngest son, Harry, at his fourth birthday. So a lot of pictures of a very personal nature there. Also a number of personal letters between Diana and her sons, letters also to Diana from people like the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta and from her brother, Earl Spencer. We're also talking about a lot of clothes. A number of ball gowns, a lot of hats, a lot of handbags. Three hundred and forty-two items altogether.
The prosecution here at Bow Street magistrates' court in central London estimating those objects worth on the open market around five million pounds. That's about $8 million. All along, though, Paul Burrell, through his lawyer, has been saying he's not guilty of stealing these items but has said, instead, that they were given to him throughout his years of service to Princess Diana.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW SHAW, BURRELL'S ATTORNEY: She placed items with a man she trusted instead of professional advisers and instead of with her family. They were not on display in Mr. Burrell's house, nor even looked at but were kept safe. That is what she wanted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: But what happens next is the legal proceedings are scheduled to resume on October the 12th. Police say they're very reluctant at this stage to let the Prince of Wales and his son, the heir to the British throne, Prince William, take the witness stand. They are likely, though, to be presenting written statements.
Just give you an indication of how controversial that would be and it is still a possibility. The last time a senior member of the Royal Family stood in the witness box to give evidence at a trial was back in 1891 when the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, gave evidence in a slander case, a civil case, over a card game. So it is still a possibility that these senior members of the Royal Family will go to the witness box but extremely unlikely at this stage.
Matthew Chance, CNN, in central London.
LIN: Oh my.
MCEDWARDS: Thank you, Matthew.
And one of the things he allegedly has in his possession is an autographed picture of David Hasselhoff. He, of course, as you heard in the piece, says he was given this stuff as a gift, so maybe he's a -- maybe he's a "Baywatch" fan, I don't know.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, or "Night Rider." Remember that...
MCEDWARDS: That's right.
LIN: ... with the black car.
In the meantime, we're still on Royal watch. You know there is word that the Royal Family might have leaked the story to a London newspaper that has everybody abuzz. Seems to be reporting that the Queen has given her grudging nod to Charles to marry Camilla.
MCEDWARDS: That's right. Question, though, of course, if she were allowed to marry, would she ever be called Queen or would they have to come up with some creative new title for her? We're going to have more on that story ahead.
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