London
The case against Paul Burrell, the butler accused of stealing from the estate of the late Princess Diana, collapsed this week after Queen Elizabeth unexpectedly spoke up in his defense. Burrell was charged with plundering Diana’s estate of personal photos, letters, and other possessions. But in the middle of the trial, after an investigation that cost taxpayers more than $2 million, the queen suddenly remembered that the butler had told her he had put aside some of Diana’s things. Prosecutors immediately dropped the charges. Many newspapers suggested that the queen stopped the trial to keep Burrell from testifying and spilling a host of embarrassing royal secrets. He may do so anyway: The Daily Mirror is paying the man Diana called her “rock” more than half a million dollars to tell all.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why ‘anti-Islam’ bikers are guarding Gaza aid sitesIn The Spotlight Members of Infidels MC, who regard themselves as modern Crusaders, among private security guards at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites
-
China: Xi seeks to fill America’s voidFeature Trump’s tariffs are pushing nations eastward as Xi Jinping focuses on strengthening ties with global leaders
-
Rebrands: Bringing back the War DepartmentFeature Trump revives the Department of Defense’s former name
