Bishop: Butler had no permission to remove Diana property
Royal butler Paul Burrell had not asked permission from the Bishop of London - an executor of the Princess of Wales’s will – to remove property from Kensington Palace after her death, an Old Bailey court heard today.
The Rt Rev Richard Chartres, the first non-police witness to give evidence in Burrell’s trial, was called to give details about his role as both a Dean of the Chapels Royal and as an executor.
He was asked by William Boyce QC, prosecuting: “Were you ever informed by Mr Burrell that he was retaining property in trust for Prince William and Prince Harry?”
The Bishop replied: “Not to my recollection.”
Mr Boyce: “Did he ever seek your authority to remove property from Kensington Palace?”
Again the Bishop replied: “Not to my recollection.”
Mr Boyce: “Did you give permission to remove a bronze ballerina?”
“I have no recollection of that,” the Bishop replied.
Father of two Burrell, 44, from Farndon, Cheshire, is accused of stealing hundreds of personal items from the Princess’s estate and property belonging to Prince Charles and Prince William.
He has denied theft.
