ROYALS AT XMAS
Former butler Paul Burrell on how Christmas may look behind palace walls – and the special surprise he’ll be celebrating following his cancer battle
He spent over two decades with the Royal Family, but always Paul Burrell – the former butler to both the Queen and Princess Diana – says he always reminisces over “The Firm’s” festive traditions at this time of year.
And despite leaving service 26 years ago, Paul says he still brings a little bit of royal magic into his own home in Cheshire, where he’ll be spending Christmas with his husband of six years, Graham Cooper.
Paul, 65, says, “I always set the table with our best silver and best crystal glasses – I set it as if I’m setting it at Sandringham. [But] I’ll miss the corgis at Christmas – they always had great fun in the wrapping paper!”
Paul reveals that, under the Queen’s reign, the royals’ Christmas was like a “football match” of laughter and screams as the family unwrapped their presents on Christmas Eve, but he believes this year will be a quieter affair – with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s absence.
He says, “I think the King is quite content with William, Kate and their children [George, 10, C
