A Royal Duty

Publisher's Summary

In A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell reveals the truth about Princess Diana, as well as a faithful account of her thoughts. He was the favourite footman who formed a unique relationship with the Queen. He was the butler who the Princess of Wales called "my rock" and "the only man I can trust". He was accused of theft, then acquitted following the historic intervention of the monarch. He was the Princess' most intimate confidant - and may be the only person able to separate the myth from the truth of the Diana years.

©2003, 2004 Paul Burrell (P)2007 W F Howes Ltd.

Disappointing

Any additional comments?

There's a saying along the lines of "Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

Paul Burrell spends over 400 pages describing innumerable instances in which he believed he served as Diana's faultless knight in shining armor. He repeatedly uses words such as "heroic" and "discrete" (!) to describe himself, which struck me as increasingly strange as the book plodded on. Also, Paul has a wife and family but yet states clearly that his loyalty was/is foremost to Diana - all day, every day.

It doesn't someone who's studied psychology (which I have, I should add) to realize Paul Burrell (and Diana, to be honest) have some issues. Most likely, codependency.

Don't read this book if you're hoping to learn a great deal about Princess Diana. If self-congratulatory butlers are your thing, though, this is the book for you.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

So glad I finally listened!

As an American Royalist since Diana appeared on the scene, I resisted this book for many years as I felt it was a betrayal on Paul Burrell's part to have written it . My opinion is now the opposite.
At almost 20 years on from her death , it was a fascinating listen. I was brought to smiles, chuckles , and of course tears.
Thank you , Paul , for your service and for the sacrifices made by you and your family for holding the course.

Highest recommendations to all those interested in the British Royal Family

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A Royal Duty

A facinating insight to a very private and public family. It changed my opinion on quite a few things. Paul Burrell did an outstanding job.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Interesting approach and a great story

This was an interesting Approach by the author who told her story by telling his own story. In a way it's actually genius because telling his own story is something that really can't be refuted as much as trying to tell the story of Diana herself. I actually really enjoyed this book and it gave me a whole new perspective on the Spencer family. I had heard similar stories from others, but here you see just how far they would go to capitalize on their daughter's life. It also gave me more respect than I expected to find for the Royal family.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent first person account.

History as told by the most intimate of first person accounts. Paul Burrell was The Princesses friend, counselor, and protector. Just a great story.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Really enjoyed it!

This was my first story on the Royals. I was really impressed with the lively narration and the concise, but detailed story line. I enjoyed learning about the "servant" side of the story too and how life was for Paul in the Queen's service. I found him very loyal and respectful in telling his story. I hope that this author produces more books on the subject or even on other subjects. He is a great writer and a very good narrator. I enjoyed this a lot.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Great Book.. Spoiler Alert....

Loved the story, but title & cover of book was misleading. Not all about Diana.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent book about life with Princess Diana

Paul Burrell did a phenomenal job articulating his life serving the Royal family and the backlash he faced after her death. Excellent book. I highly recommend it.

Poignant and Loving Memoir

For years I have avoided any “tell-all”books about this most beloved Royal. In my heart, she was nearly flawless, terribly maligned in the press, and she felt like someone that I knew, personally. People with that kind of magical charisma are like that. I didn’t want my image to be tarnished. Listening to Mr. Burrell read his passionate, and very detailed, recounting of his life with The Princess has only improved the magic for me. Even in his brutal recounting of the darker things that happened in and around her life, he remains a gentleman. Her most personal secrets are not revealed, but her spirit and personality are. It’s a privilege to hear this real-life story in his own voice.

Great! Until the last hour

I loved the first 28 1/2 hours. The chapters on the Queen were very entertaining as were most of the chapters on Princess Diana. His continual patting himself on the back grew tiresome. And toward the end I grew weary of his constant self-acclaimed keeper of Princess Diana’s legacy and secrets he kept alluding to that he would take to his grave. We got it the first 187 times.

You'll never see the royals the same again..

Surprisingly interesting. I enjoyed this book more then I expected. I thought it would be some what controversial due to the publicity it gained during its release (think: bad mouthing of the royal family and them being portrayed as cold and some what heartless). It was infact the opposite, Paul obviously had the upmost respect for the royal family and revealed a more of the warmth and kindness the royal family unforchantly keep hidden from the public. This book is one man's tribute to Diana that will be, no doubt,referenced for years to come history. Why Paul became a hated figure in the uk, for so long when he first released this book over ten years ago, i will never know. I guess they didn't read the book first?

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

Great Listen, dont miss it

Paul Burrell and family has in my view has been through so much that we other mortals would have fallen into a deep depression. He has done more than any other employee would for their employer. He deserves our respect for his loyalty to Diana and the other royals. He seems to have given the royals his life and got nothing but disloyalty and hate in return. Diana was a unique person who deserves this tribute from a caring, loyal man as Paul. Good luck to him, he deserves our support. Paul is so easy to listen to, well done Paul Cant wait for the next book.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

GREAT READ

I would thoroughly recommend. Feels a real account. I'm glad I waited all these years.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

I didn't enjoy this book at all, I feel somewhat let down by the story, it was difficult to listen to

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The story we all wanted to know

What did you like most about A Royal Duty?

I liked the apparent honesty of Burrell's description of circumstances and events.

What did you like best about this story?

It's a compelling story, about one of the most interesting figures of the 20th century.

Any additional comments?

No one seems to come out of this unscathed, but it seems clear where Burrell's sympathies lie. I think what struck me most was his enduring loyalty to HM The Queen and the clear insight into her as a sane and highly intelligent woman.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic account

I listened to this audiobook in less than 2 weeks; Mr Burrell's voice is so smooth and easy to listen to! He opens a window into his hectic and glamourous life at the heart of British royalty. His relationship with "The Boss" , "Oldest Son", Maria, the "Boys", the clockwork pace of life with the Queen... I feel sorry for the ill treatment dispensed by the Spencers to him and felt rather uncomfortable with the shredding of documents and letters promoted by them after Diana's death. It changed my whole perspective about her family and the Windsors.

great insight into royal life

Was kept intrigued from the beginning with good narration and interesting facts which govern royal life.

A great insight

I found this book very honest and gained an insight into the royals and the monarch which was fantastic!
The hard times Diana went through was sad, her personality shone through and the relationship Paul had with her was truly special.
Well written and a great tribute.

Amazing journey

Beautifully narrated ! Paul lets you actually feel like you the reader were present and part of his life with his mother and family to the inner world at Buckingham Palace and in Diana's home and life ! He doesn't reveal all the secrets of course and I think holds back some real feelings towards some (especially after the trial) But in all was a real insight to his amazing career and life !

Infatuation

A well written and read book. Quite compelling. How true one will never know. A story of a man totally infatuated by the Princess of Wales. Not too sure why it should upset anyone as didn't feel it said anything we didn't already know. The point of the Court case is a complete mystery and one wonders what that was all about! His wife is an angel and the true star of the book. Why she put up with his obsession of POW is beyond me! I enjoyed the story but feel it is just that, a story.