Paul Burrell denies he slept with Diana

Former royal butler Paul Burrell has denied claims that he had a “sexual relationship” with the Princess of Wales. His brother-in-law Peter Cosgrove had claimed the former butler bedded Diana as part of his “royal duties”.

Burrell, however, said there was “not one shred of truth” in the allegation levelled by Cosgrove. “Anyone who knows me, who knew the Princess and understands the boundaries and decencies of royal service, as well as the integrity and trust which exist within our working relationship at Kensington Palace, will know how distasteful, fanciful and malicious these claims truly are,” he said.

The former butler said that that Cosgrove had invented the allegations out of “vengeance” after he had refused to give him money. Cosgrove, a 61-year- old Cheshire furniture dealer, is known to have approached at least two newspapers last week through a third party to hawk his story.

Burrell’s wife Maria, who is Cosgrove’s sister, said: “I am mortified and embarrassed at the claims attributed to my brother. I disassociate myself with everything that he is reported to have said. It’s perhaps no coincidence that these claims have surfaced just three weeks after he asked, via a voicemail, for money.”

Cosgrove, however, stuck to the allegations he had levelled.