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Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding book for Diana Fans
Review: A fascinating look inside the royal world. Paul Burrell's duties as a member of the royal household, first as a butler to Queen Elizabeth II, at Highgove for Prince Charles and Princess Diana and last in Princess Diana's Kensington Palace household, give him unique insight and voice to the Diana years in the Windsor family. Loyal to the end, his writing gives us the "behind the scenes viewpoint" for the events we all so publicly witnessed. Shame on Prince William and Prince Harry for "denoucing" this book. If they had actually read the book, they would see that Mr. Burrell did not reveal anything untoward about their mother, the Queen, Prince Charles or them. He was very respectful and considerate. A definite "must read" for any royal watcher. A treat to read from cover to cover.
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Summary: Very well done
Review: I just finished reading this book, and I don't understand why critics and the royal family have said that the book is negative. It's emotional, interesting, and highly respectful, not only of Diana but of all the royal family, including the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince Philip. It is obvious that Mr. Burrell loved his job and loves the royal family and the monarchy, in general. I came away from the book with a more positive feeling about the rest of the royals. Mr. Burrell makes it clear that Diana and Charles did love each other in the beginning and that Diana had a close relationship with her in-laws all along. I respect the fact that Mr. Burrell stopped short of sharing many details. (For instance, he explains that he went to Paris to take care of the princess after her death, but he does not recount details of what he saw when he entered the room in which her body lay.) Mr. Burrell has written an emotional and interesting account, and he has done so with obvious integrity and love. This is NOT a tell-all book. Far from it.
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Summary: A Fine Tribute to Diana
Review: It's obvious that Paul Burrell has a great respect for the royal family and a true affection for Diana. In this well written book he gives an insiders view of royal service - the duty, the demands, and the rewards of serving those who live in a world most of us cannot even imagine. He began his career by serving the Queen in Buckingham Palace. Soon after the marriage of Charles and Diana, Burell went to work in their household. As the royal marriage deteriorated he found it difficult to serve both master and mistress and eventually became closer to Diana. He served her with loyalty and devotion. Despite the negative remarks from Prince William, this is not a salacious tell-all book. I have read many books about Diana and have seen several documentaries. There is nothing in this book that has not been mentioned in many other places, but here Diana's story is told through the eyes of someone completely devoted to her. Burrel is unapologetically a royalist. He has kind words for everyone, even the royal family that left him to twist in the wind when he was wrongly accused by Scotland Yard of stealing some of Diana's possessions. Two years later the Queen suddenly remembered that he told her he was removing some items for safekeeping and all charges were dropped. Although Burrell obviously cared about Diana this is not a fawning hagiography. It is instead an honest tribute to a compassionate yet flawed human being.
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Summary: Service Above Self
Review: Paul Burrell has written a great book here without giving away the family jewels. I don't know what all the hoopla is about with the Royals. His love of the Queen, his employer, Prince Charles, his employer, and his country is above reproach. His love and service to Princess Diana is truly awe-inspiring. I feel that Mr. Burrell must have kept a daily diary to recall in such detail so many events. There is also a very personal look inside the going's-on of Buckingham Palace... 'Queen Elizabeth's love's in her life were: 9 Corgi dogs, her race horses, Prince Phillip, and then the Royal Family', in that order. If Diana feared her death was to make way for Camilla Parker Bowles to marry Prince Charles, I think Paul Burrell's book has squashed that idea for at least a few more years! As for Diana's family, Lord Spencer et al, a great group if you like grave robbers. Mr. Burrell certainly sets the record straight there. I wish nothing but the best for this footman, butler, confidant, and now author for a truly remarkable history of the lovely Princess Di. He was her 'rock' both in life, and now in her death. An inquest into her untimely death is the next step in this ongoing saga. As the saying goes, 'you can't keep a good woman down'. Touche, Mr. Burrell!
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Summary: Thank You Paul!!!
Review: Paul Burrell obviously did not write this book for no other reason than to set the record straight and I admire him for not trying to cash in on his extremely close relationship with the princess. The poor man has endured enough pain and loss in his life and I truly hope his path from this point on is easier. I like the way he paints Diana in an honest light: as a lovely woman with her share of human foibles and troubles just like the rest of us. He trashes no one in the book including The Royal Family unless they honestly deserve it, otherwise he tries to remain neutral and fair. Prince Charles is a trip! But then are we really surprised? I also share the belief that the Princess' death was not an accident in the pure sense of the word, I have believed that from the beginning. Sadly, the world lost an amazing woman. I wish Paul the best and I thank him for this extremely interesting insight into a very remarkable relationship.
Rating:
Summary: good read for royal watchers
Review: paul burrell's book provides a glimpse of Princess Diana that well captures the ups and downs of her personality. Most intriguing, perhaps, is the picture of life of Buckingham and Kensington Palaces from a butler's viewpoint. The author was consumed by his devotion to the Princess, and that devotion was so extreme that his entire life was effected during his tenure with Princess Diana and since then. That his wife and family stood by him while he was in her employ is remarkable, but his relationship with his wife during that time is not entirely clear. While Burrell has much insight into his extraordinary fascination and devotion, his present state of mind and ambition are not fully put forth. This book is not a salacious tell all, but a vivid portrait of an unusual relationship and his descriptions both of the royals and of the palace life are compelling.
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Summary: Interesting Royal Read
Review: This book was tastefully written by a man whom obviously shared a very close relationship with Princess Diana and the royal family. It was particularly interesting to delve into the bits of details surrounding incidents that only he could have known about. By books end, I couldn't help but feel this was more than just an intimate protrait of a personal relationship but more a written testimony of the facts surrounding the scandal of the "butler possessing royal belongings" as given by Mr. Burell. After reading this book, it's impossible not to believe in Mr. Burell and the torid time he must have gone through in not only having lost his "family" but his credibility. If there was one aspect of the book that truly disgruntled me even if done with discretion in mind, I couldn't help but be continually perturbed by the referal to the men in Diana's life without the validation of their identities. I understand the nuance of protocol and respect involved but they could have been better portrayed at the very least. Overall, it's an interesting tribute and sad memorial of the most vivacious royal family member I have ever read about. My heart goes out to the Burell family.
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