Diana butler pleads not guilty to theft

Former royal butler Paul Burrell today pleaded not guilty to three counts of theft, relating to items belonging to Diana, Princess of Wales, the Prince of Wales and Prince William, when he appeared for trial at the Old Bailey.

Mr Burrell arrived in a dark Mercedes with his wife Maria at 9.15am. The 44-year-old father-of-two held his wife's hand as they emerged from their car amid a barrage of flashes from the cameras of the assembled media.

Mr Burrell looked close to tears as he was guided into the court building by his solicitor Andrew Shaw.

He will spend the next six weeks in the dock of court one, which has been picked mainly because it can accommodate the scores of journalists reporting on the case.

He is charged with three counts of theft relating to 286 items belonging to Diana's estate, 22 belonging to Prince William and four belonging to Prince Charles.

They were allegedly stolen from Kensington Palace between January 1 1997 and June 30 1998.

Diana lived at the palace until her death in 1997. The items include personal memorabilia, photographs, letters, clothes, CDs and jewellery. A letter and cards belonging to Prince William, signed from "mummy", were also allegedly taken.

It is thought the issues in the case will centre on whether the items were entrusted to Mr Burrell by Diana, or whether he stole them.

The trial for the prosecution was being opened by William Boyce QC. The live evidence he will call is expected to provide many colourful witnesses and will begin with police officers taking the stand.

Diana's mother, Frances Shand Kydd, and her sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale - both executors of Diana's estate - are due to give key evidence for the prosecution, but will not appear before the end of this week at the earliest.

The former private secretary to Prince Charles, Sir Stephen Lamport, is also expected to be a prosecution witness. Neither Prince Charles nor Prince William will be called.

Mr Burrell worked for the royal family for 21 years, first joining as a trainee footman in 1976. Within a year he was appointed personal footman to the Queen.

He met Diana in 1980 while she was staying at Balmoral. She chose him as a butler for Highgrove, in Gloucestershire.

Mr Burrell was arrested in January last year when police raided his home in Farndon, Cheshire.