Aug 22, 2007, 12:20 GMT
Paul Burrell, Britain's Princess Diana's former butler, has slammed the decision to invite Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, to her memorial service.
The former royal servant says the move to include Camilla - who was widely blamed for the breakdown of Diana's marriage to Prince Charles - in the London ceremony next Friday (31.08.07) shows the royal aides never really knew the princess.
He told Closer magazine: "Memorial services should honour the person whose life is being remembered.
"This is further evidence of how out of touch the advisors within the royal family are.
"The princess bore no resentment towards Camilla, but that doesn't mean she would have invited her to an intimate gathering of friends - which is surely what a memorial service should be.
"Let's just say that I very much doubt the princess would be expecting to see here there!"
Paul - who has released two tell-all books about his time with the princess, 'A Royal Duty' in 2003, and the 2006 follow-up 'The Way We Were' - says he was "saddened" by Princes William and Harry's decision not to invite him to their mother's ceremony at the Wellington Barracks' Guards Chapel.
He added: "I didn't expect to be invited to the memorial service, but I'm deeply saddened by the situation. But this is not the time to bear grudges."
The princes reportedly barred Paul from the service as they were disgusted by how he had 'cashed-in' on her name, following her untimely death in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997.
(C) BANG Media International
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