New royal butler case collapses

Scotland Yard today announced an internal review after the trial of a second royal butler charged with stealing valuables from the estate of Diana, the Princess of Wales, collapsed at the Old Bailey.

Royal servant Harold Brown, 50, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, had been accused of stealing valuables worth more than £500,000 from the late princess's home at Kensington palace.

However, prosecutor William Boyce QC told the court that since the collapse last month of the trial of former royal butler Paul Burrell, there was no realistic prospect of securing a conviction.

The two investigations have cost the taxpayer more than £2m. Sharp criticism followed in the aftermath of Mr Burrell's acquittal and the collapse of this second trial intensifies pressure on authorities to explain why the cases were brought in the first place.

Scotland Yard immediately responded to the news by announcing that the former chief of Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Scotland, Bill Taylor, has been appointed to conduct a review.

Mr Taylor, who was appointed by the commissioner of the Metropolitan police, Sir John Stevens, "will report directly to the commissioner and has been asked to identify any lessons to be learned from these cases", Scotland Yard said.

Mr Brown, who was the late Princess Margaret's butler and a royal servant for more than 30 years, faced three charges of theft. It was alleged he stole a £500,000 jewelled model of an Arabian sailing ship, as well as earrings, a bangle and a brooch, all in 1997. He continued to work for the ailing Princess Margaret even after he was charged.

His co-accused, society jeweller Jan Havlik, 51, was accused of dishonestly handling the valuables. The case against him has also collapsed.

Mr Boyce said: "The director of public prosecutions has personally decided, that in the light of what occurred during and after the trial of Paul Burrell and events following, to offer no evidence against either defendant on all charges."

He invited the judge to find them both not guilty as charged. Mr Brown and Mr Havlik were freed from the dock by Judge Michael Hyam, who awarded them their defence costs.

Without making any comment, Mr Brown walked out of the Old Bailey into a throng of media where his solicitor James Brotherton read a statement saying his client was "delighted" by the day's result. It went on: "He has always maintained his innocence in this matter and the police and prosecution have today offered no evidence."

Mr Brotherton added: "He has no intention of selling his story now or in the future, which is entirely consistent with over 30 years loyal service with the royal family." If this is the case, it will be in contrast to Mr Burrell who sold his story for a reported £300,000 to the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Mr Brown had been a servant to senior members of the royal family for more than three decades. His continuing employment with the royals, despite being branded an alleged thief, would surely have formed a key plank in his Old Bailey defence had the case gone ahead. Princess Margaret wanted her butler to continue caring for her even though police had accused him of stealing from Kensington palace. Only last month he helped her son, Viscount Linley move house. Lord Linley is said to have always been fond of his mother's favourite servant, and retained him after she died in February this year.

Mr Burrell was cleared of theft charges after royal intervention destroyed the crown's case. He was cleared at the Old Bailey on November 1 after it emerged that Mr Burrell had told the Queen in a private conversation following Diana's death that he had kept some of the princess's possessions for safe keeping.

Questions have already been asked by senior politicians and law officers on the way the cases were pursued, the parts played by members of the royal family and why the prosecutions went ahead.

Prince Charles's private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, has since launched a palace inquiry not only into the Burrell affair, but also allegations of homosexual rape and the alleged sale by trusted staff of the royal family's unwanted gifts.