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What the queen knew about Burrell
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British royal family has moved to clarify details of the timing of Queen Elizabeth's involvement in the case of Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former Butler. Following Diana's death, the queen met Burrell in December 1997 and told her he was holding some of the princess's papers for "safekeeping." Burrell was subsequently investigated by police who raided his house in January 2001. The queen's private secretary, Sir Robin Janvrin, told the queen about the raid, and was himself briefed by police in April 2001, according to a Buckingham Palace statement on Tuesday. (Full statement) Burrell was charged with theft but the case was thrown out on November 1 this year after the queen intervened. In another statement on Tuesday, Sir Michael Peat, Prince Charles's private secretary, said the queen believed what Burrell had told her was not relevant because she had been led to believe police had evidence that Burrell was selling items overseas and had dressed up in some of the princess's clothes. It was only during the trial, when it became clear that police did not have this evidence, that the queen realised the importance of her information, he said. Peat said on Tuesday that the royal household had been surprised when the queen's information led to the collapse of Burrell's trial. (Peat profile) Peat -- who is to head an internal inquiry at St James's Palace into issues arising from the trial -- said there was no conspiracy on the part of the royals. (Inquiry terms) He said: "The conspiracy theories are, the politest you could say, implausible. The queen's role was very limited. She knew Burrell, she saw him in December 1997 at his request, she gave him support -- he was distressed. "She thought nothing more of the conversation, then quite a period later the investigation into Burrell arose." Police briefed the Prince Charles and his eldest son, Prince William, and his advisers on their case on August 3, 2001. Peat said: "Police saw the Prince of Wales...and they told the Prince of Wales they had intelligence Burrell was selling items overseas and had dressed up in some of Diana, Princess of Wales's clothing. "So the queen thought some of her conversation, during which he said he was looking after some of her papers for safekeeping, was not particularly relevant. "The police never went back to the Prince of Wales to tell him that they did not have any evidence that Burrell was selling items abroad or dressing up in Diana's clothing. "The queen therefore continued to believe that police had evidence and therefore that her conversation was not relevant. "It was only when the queen read the newspapers during the court case that she realised that what Paul Burrell had said to her was relevant. So she told the Prince of Wales, and the Prince of Wales told me. "It was obvious that it might be relevant and so the decision was reached that the correct thing to do was to tell the police as soon as possible. "We were all rather surprised that the information did result in the trial coming to an end."
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