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Burrell: The key dates
Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 01.11.02Here are the main events in Paul Burrell's life since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales:
1997: August 31 - Diana, Princess of Wales dies in a Paris car crash. Paul Burrell flies to the French capital and is handed her blood-stained clothing. He dresses her body in a fresh Catherine Walker outfit and puts on her make-up before joining the Prince of Wales in returning to Britain with her body on the Royal Flight.
November 13 - The Queen awards Burrell the Royal Victorian Medal for service to the royal family.
November 15 - A committee is established to decide on a memorial to Diana and Burrell is appointed as a member.
1998: March 21 - Burrell attends a charity ball in Los Angeles to campaign for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and says "the most essential quality" is "loyalty and trust".
August 2 - Burrell speaks in depth for the first time and says: "I don't think I'll ever get over her death. Nothing can replace that void."
December 19 - Burrell leaves the Memorial Fund in acrimonious circumstances. Chief executive Andrew Purkis claims Burrell "would dearly love to be more of a media personality" while Burrell says he will continue to champion the Princess's cause.
1999: May - A book deal, Entertaining With Style, is revealed along with a new job for Burrell as a TV presenter on Channel 5's Open House programme, commenting on royal stories and passing on cookery tips.
June 19 - The royal confidant commentates on the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones for American network ABC.
2000: November 19 - Burrell says he is baffled by reports that police want to question him about missing property. "I don't know anything about it," he says.
2001: January 18 - Police raid Burrell's Cheshire home at 6.50am and arrest the former butler. They spend all day searching his house and removing items he is later accused of stealing from Diana, the Prince of Wales and Prince William.
January 19 - Burrell is questioned at a local police station by Scotland Yard detectives.
February 27 - Burrell answers bail at a central London police station and is questioned for five hours over the alleged theft. He is bailed again, pending further inquiries.
March 24 - The Prince of Wales reportedly tells friends he does not want Burrell prosecuted because of fears his sons Princes William and Harry will be drawn into the investigation.
August 16 - Burrell answers bail at West End Central police station and is charged with stealing 342 items belonging to Diana, Prince William and the Prince of Wales. The items include CDs and LPs signed Diana, some of her designer clothing and family photo albums.
August 17 - The former butler appears at Bow Street magistrates court in central London and is remanded on conditional bail after a six-minute hearing. Outside court, his solicitor Andrew Shaw denounces it as a "trophy trial".
August 18 - Burrell's wife Maria tells reporters she is devastated and adds: "All my family and friends stand beside him."
October 24 - Burrell's brother Graham is arrested on suspicion of possessing
stolen goods.
October 26 - Paul Burrell makes a fresh appearance at Bow Street magistrates. His solicitor says Burrell is under "intolerable pressure".
November 28 - Burrell is committed to stand trial at the Old Bailey. He is close to tears at the end of the 15-minute hearing.
2002: January 11 - The trial is delayed to avoid clashing with the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
August 8 - Graham Burrell is told he will not face charges as police discontinue their inquiries over him.
October 14 - As the case finally gets under way, Burrell pleads not guilty to three counts of theft.
October 16 - The trial is dramatically halted on its third day as the entire jury is discharged for legal reasons.
October 17 - The second trial begins with the judge admitting she is deliberately keeping part of the case from the public to protect Princes William and Harry.
October 29 - Day nine of the trial and it is abruptly halted again, with the jury sent home until further notice.
November 1 - The trial dramatically collapses with Burrell found not guilty on all charges.
