The Crown is a ‘fair and accurate’ depiction of Princess Diana as a ‘victim’, claims Paul Burrell

The Crown is a ‘true, fair and accurate’ depiction of Princess Diana as a ‘victim of people who didn’t really care’, her former royal butler has claimed.

Speaking on Lorraine this morning, Paul Burrell suggested Emma Corrin, who plays the late princess in Netflix’s drama, which aired its fourth season yesterday, has perfected Diana’s mannerisms and personality.

Paul, based in Cheshire, who was Princess Diana’s butler and confidante, claimed the royal wasn’t taken care of when joining The Firm, as shown in the programme.

‘This is just a peek behind the doors of Buckingham Palace, that the palace perhaps doesn’t want you to see,’ he said.

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The Crown is a ‘true, fair and accurate’ depiction of Princess Diana as a ‘victim of people who didn’t really care’, her former royal butler Paul Burrell (pictured) has claimed

Speaking on Lorraine this morning, Paul Burrell suggested Emma Corrin (pictured), who plays the late princess in Netflix's drama, which aired its fourth season yesterday, has perfected Diana's mannerisms and personality

Speaking on Lorraine this morning, Paul Burrell suggested Emma Corrin (pictured), who plays the late princess in Netflix’s drama, which aired its fourth season yesterday, has perfected Diana’s mannerisms and personality

Paul, based in Cheshire, who was Princess Diana's butler and confidante, claimed the royal wasn't taken care of when joining The Firm, as shown in the programme. Pictured, Princess Diana in her wedding dress in July 1981

Paul, based in Cheshire, who was Princess Diana’s butler and confidante, claimed the royal wasn’t taken care of when joining The Firm, as shown in the programme. Pictured, Princess Diana in her wedding dress in July 1981

‘Because this is the truth,’ Paul added. ‘In many ways, it is a fair and accurate dramatisation of what happened.

‘I was there, from the very beginning, I remember meeting the shy young girl lost in a corridor in Balmoral in 1980, I was 22, she was 18.

‘I took her back to her room and she said “You wouldn’t stay a while and have a chat would you?” and I said “Of course”.

‘She said “Run me through the day, what happens in this place, you know I’m completely out of my depth”, so I ran her through the whole programme.’

He added: ‘There’s no rule book, there’s nobody to help you. You have to just fumble your way through it and hope that there are kind people along the way that will help you.

Emma Corrin transforms into Diana alongside Prince Charles actor Josh O'Connor in the new series (pictured together)

Emma Corrin transforms into Diana alongside Prince Charles actor Josh O’Connor in the new series (pictured together)

Season four of The Crown portrays Diana's entrance in the Royal Family, as well as her incompatibility with Prince Charles (pictured in 1981)

Season four of The Crown portrays Diana’s entrance in the Royal Family, as well as her incompatibility with Prince Charles (pictured in 1981)

‘Princess Diana was a romantic young girl. She fell in love with her prince, she thought he was going to protect her, he was going to love her, he was going to support her, but none of that happened because he was in love with another woman.

‘But that affair, ruled his life and Camilla, her presence is omnipresent. She’s always there, and Diana had to battle with that from day one.’

The former butler revealed that he had to unpick any entwined Cs from Diana’s shoes and handbags – such as Chanel logos – because ‘she didn’t want to be reminded of that affair that she had to live with’.

Paul also remarked on Emma Corrin’s portrayal of Diana in The Crown, saying: ‘I watch it from profile and I think it’s her. I think she’s got it exactly and her mannerisms, and the way she talks, and I’m feeling it again…

‘I’m feeling her personality be picked at behind the scenes by these people who don’t really care. They’re all gods in their own kingdoms, and they’re just looking out for themselves. 

Emma Corrin as Diana. Paul admitted that Diana did have a 'ripple of support' from Prince Philip who wrote 'very supportive letters' to his daughter-in-law

Emma Corrin as Diana. Paul admitted that Diana did have a ‘ripple of support’ from Prince Philip who wrote ‘very supportive letters’ to his daughter-in-law

‘They didn’t take care of her. She didn’t get any praise, she only got negativity. She became a victim because of the way she was treated.’ 

But Paul admitted that Diana did have a ‘ripple of support’ from Prince Philip who wrote ‘very supportive letters’ to his daughter-in-law.

The former royal butler claimed: ‘He said to her: “Mama and I do not condone Charles’ relationship with Camilla and we cannot understand for the life of us why he would choose Camilla over you.”

‘Now that’s what Prince Philip said to Diana, I saw it. So there was a ripple of support for Diana in the royal family but it wasn’t a tactile support.

‘There wasn’t anyone standing beside her to say do this and do that because she didn’t have the loving support of her husband.’

The Crown’s fourth season – which aired on Netflix yesterday – tells the story of the royal family in the 1980s, when two iconic figures – Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson) and Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) – disrupt the staid and stoical status quo.