The New Nation - Internet Edition

BBC Online

Princess Diana's former butler has told the inquest into her death he had not been given the impression that Dodi Al Fayed was "the one".

Paul Burrell worked for Diana for more than 10 years. He described Diana's relationship with Mr Al Fayed as "a very new friendship which developed into something more". He also said that he "connected all the princess's friends and all her world" and was "at the hub of the wheel, everybody was at the spokes".

He told the High Court in London that he did not believe the couple's romance had begun during a holiday on Al Fayed's yacht at the end of July 1997.

Instead he thought it was only after their return that the pair became romantically linked. Diana had taken a holiday on Mohamed al Fayed's yacht the Jonikal with her sons, Princes William and Harry.

When asked by Ian Burnett QC, representing the inquest, about the early nature of the relationship, Burnell replied: "It was very fresh, new and exciting."

Burnett also asked: "By that stage had you any sense from the Princess thatt to use a hackneyed phrase that has appeared in so many media reports, Dodi was 'the one'?" Burrell replied: "No, I didn't have that impression.

"I certainly don't think the romance started on the first holiday. I think that would have been inappropriate with William and Harry being in attendance."