Paul Burrell

Paul Burrell, RVM (born (1958-06-06)6 June 1958) is a former servant of the British Royal Household. He was a footman for Queen Elizabeth II and later butler to Diana, Princess of Wales. Since her death in 1997, Burrell has featured in the media, sometimes prominently, in connection with her, and since 2004 as an occasional entertainment show celebrity.

Burrell was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in November 1997 for services to the Royal Family.

Background and career in the Royal Household

Burrell grew up in Grassmoor, Derbyshire, a coal-mining community in England's Midlands. His father was a lorry driver and it was initially assumed that Burrell would go to work in the local colliery, but had decided aged eight years that he wanted to work at Buckingham Palace after a trip to London with his family, where he witnessed the Changing of the Guard. He attended William Rhodes Secondary School in Chesterfield and left, aged 16, with six O-Levels before attending High Peak College in Buxton where he studied hotel management.