Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Interview with Robin Curnow
Aired November 01, 2002 - 07:52 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We go back to London now for more on the trial of Princess Diana's butler. The case just collapsed after some information from the queen herself surfaced unexpectantly.
Let's turn to reporter Robin Curnow who joins us live from London.
Good morning -- Robin. I guess the question that's on everybody's minds this morning is, why did the queen get involved in this process so late?
ROBIN CURNOW, ROYALS WATCHER: That is the million-dollar question. Why is this information only coming to light now?
This trial has been going on for weeks. People have been talking about it constantly. It's been the subject of intense tabloid focus. We've gone through the minute detail of the trial. So, it just seems inconceivable that this queen didn't know that the trial was going on or this information was coming out. So, the fact that it's coming out now is significant.
I know that one lawyer that I spoke to says that the sudden late information that's come to light could be one of two things. The first one, the suggestion that it's a botched police investigation, or the second one is that the queen was simply withholding evidence, which in itself is a really bizarre situation for the British public. The British monarchy and the constitutional implications are also going to be very interesting. There's going to be a lot to talk about in the next few weeks.
ZAHN: Well, for the folks that weren't with us as this story broke just about an hour ago, explain to us what exactly what it was that the queen confirmed that allowed the judge to throw this case out.
CURNOW: The queen confirmed, remembered that she had had a conversation with Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's butler, who was accused and on trial for stealing more than -- allegedly stealing more than 300 items of the princess' personal belongings. The queen remembered that she had had this conversation in a private meeting soon after the princess' death in 1997. And this in itself proved -- and in that meeting, Paul Burrell was said to have said to the queen that he was keeping some items for safekeeping.
Paul Burrell, in a statement as he came out of court today, also said that he was disappointed the police hadn't followed that up earlier, because he said that he had -- in a 39-page statement, he had made reference to this private meeting with the queen, and the police hadn't actually followed that up.
So, we'll see what comes out of this, but essentially and the reason he didn't actually draw more attention to it was, what he said, was because he is such a loyal servant of the royal family. And in that, he didn't want to draw attention to the queen's role in this. And I think that's also very important.
The role of the queen in terms of the media and the trial is fascinating.
ZAHN: Yes, and the implications of this are really quite profound.
Robin Curnow, thanks for that live update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired November 1, 2002 - 07:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We go back to London now for more on the trial of Princess Diana's butler. The case just collapsed after some information from the queen herself surfaced unexpectantly.
Let's turn to reporter Robin Curnow who joins us live from London.
Good morning -- Robin. I guess the question that's on everybody's minds this morning is, why did the queen get involved in this process so late?
ROBIN CURNOW, ROYALS WATCHER: That is the million-dollar question. Why is this information only coming to light now?
This trial has been going on for weeks. People have been talking about it constantly. It's been the subject of intense tabloid focus. We've gone through the minute detail of the trial. So, it just seems inconceivable that this queen didn't know that the trial was going on or this information was coming out. So, the fact that it's coming out now is significant.
I know that one lawyer that I spoke to says that the sudden late information that's come to light could be one of two things. The first one, the suggestion that it's a botched police investigation, or the second one is that the queen was simply withholding evidence, which in itself is a really bizarre situation for the British public. The British monarchy and the constitutional implications are also going to be very interesting. There's going to be a lot to talk about in the next few weeks.
ZAHN: Well, for the folks that weren't with us as this story broke just about an hour ago, explain to us what exactly what it was that the queen confirmed that allowed the judge to throw this case out.
CURNOW: The queen confirmed, remembered that she had had a conversation with Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's butler, who was accused and on trial for stealing more than -- allegedly stealing more than 300 items of the princess' personal belongings. The queen remembered that she had had this conversation in a private meeting soon after the princess' death in 1997. And this in itself proved -- and in that meeting, Paul Burrell was said to have said to the queen that he was keeping some items for safekeeping.
Paul Burrell, in a statement as he came out of court today, also said that he was disappointed the police hadn't followed that up earlier, because he said that he had -- in a 39-page statement, he had made reference to this private meeting with the queen, and the police hadn't actually followed that up.
So, we'll see what comes out of this, but essentially and the reason he didn't actually draw more attention to it was, what he said, was because he is such a loyal servant of the royal family. And in that, he didn't want to draw attention to the queen's role in this. And I think that's also very important.
The role of the queen in terms of the media and the trial is fascinating.
ZAHN: Yes, and the implications of this are really quite profound.
Robin Curnow, thanks for that live update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
