Paul Burrell: ‘It would be the greatest birthday gift if her boys made amends’

While people around the world will remember the late Princess Diana on what would have been her 60th this week, the milestone birthday has been overshadowed in recent weeks by the feud between her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

The brothers – seemingly inseparable as children and in their twenties – have been embroiled in a deepening rift over the last three years, with reports claiming they have barely communicated since they last came face-to-face at their grandfather Prince Philip’s funeral in April.

As Closer went to press, Harry had been pictured being driven to LAX airport to fly to the UK, to appear alongside his brother at Kensington Palace on 1 July, where they – and William’s wife Kate – will unveil a statue of their late mother. His wife, Meghan Markle – who recently gave birth to their daughter Lilibet, sparking a storm after using the Queen’s family nickname– remains in California.

However, her former butler and closest confidante Paul Burrell tells Closer that while it’ll be heart-warming to honour the late Princess, tension between the brothers will “taint” the day.

Paul, 63, says, “It’s wonderful that this statue – the first ever of Diana – is going to be unveiled and that she’s going to be celebrated on her 60th. But this isn’t going to be a typical royal family affair. The focus will be just as much on the two brothers coming together. What should be a poignant and powerful moment will be tainted. I get the impression that it will be tightly controlled and that everyone will be tip-toeing around Harry.”

While close family and friends are unable to attend, Harry is believed to have hand-picked a journalist to report on the event due to his mistrust of the media and his fear of being misrepresented. Paul, who Diana once described as her “rock”, says he wouldn’t be surprised by this move because, even as a child, Harry was always desperate to have his say.

“He was always fighting for his voice to be heard – because William was the focus,” says Paul. “Harry had a mischievous streak and was a little naughty, playing up for attention. That seems to have echoed in later life.”

Paul – who first met William when he was five and Harry when he was three – reveals that while the brothers were extremely close then, they had very different personalities.

Paul says, “William was always stoic, strong-willed and incredibly mature for his age. He grew up very quickly – he had to, as people were always reminding him that he would one day be King. He was aware of his responsibility and his duty – and he was always the main focus.

“Harry, on the other hand, was, I felt, almost treated as second best in some ways. In childhood games, William would be the star and Harry would be the support.

“Of course, Diana adored them both. She was so proud of William’s leadership and maturity, but she loved how Harry had the common touch – she thought he was going to be the voice of the people, like her. She would have been brokenhearted to see their relationship now.”

CHECK OUT Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship from the start

Rumours of tension began in 2018 when it was reported that William, 39, had warned Harry, 36, about his fast-moving relationship with Meghan, 39, to which Harry had gone “ballistic”.

It then emerged that Harry and Meghan were branching away from the Kensington Palace household to form their own household. In author Robert Lacey’s book Battle Of Brothers, he claims that William initiated the split after household staff made “bullying claims” against Meghan.

The rumours gathered pace in 2018 when it emerged that Meghan and Kate, 39, had fallen out over bridesmaids dresses in the build-up to Meghan and Harry’s wedding.

The reports were confirmed when Prince Harry revealed later that year that the brothers were headed in different directions, saying, “We’ll always be brothers. But we’re certainly on different paths at the moment.”

Since their move to the States, Harry and former Suits actress Meghan have made a number of incendiary attacks on the royals in interviews.

Speaking to Oprah Winfrey in March, they alleged racism within the Palace, saying a royal had questioned the colour of unborn Archie’s skin, as well as suggesting Meghan’s calls for help over her suicidal thoughts were left unanswered. The royals were reportedly left “livid” over the allegations.

While there was hope in April when the brothers interacted at Prince Philip’s funeral – with encouragement from Kate – reports claimed attempts at “peace talks” between Harry and William and his dad Prince Charles were futile.

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However, Paul now hopes that Diana’s 60th will spark a truce once and for all – and he believes Kate could help.

He adds, “I really hope that being back at Kensington Palace, their former home, with the statue of their mother will bring it all home to William and Harry. They were once so close. Kate is somewhat of a peacemaker, so I think her being there will be integral, if there’s any hope of the boys reconciling.

“It would be the best birthday gift to Diana if they were to make amends and move forward as family, rather than enemies.”

Read more in this week's Closer mag, out now