Rating: 
Summary: A reasonably amusing read
Review: An interesting if a little dry account of life with Diana. She was obviously no stroll in the park to work for -- indeed none of the royals come across as easy keepers.The big secret I want Burrell to come clean about is where Diana is actually buried. She is certainly NOT buried out on "Dog Island" which is so shallow that any hole dug in the earth there deeper than about a foot fills with water. I imagine she has been quietly entombed in the family vault with the island myth developed to misdirect the public. The Spencer family have a lot to answer for if Burrell's account is to be believed. They seem a much nastier lot than the Windsors by a long stretch.
Rating: 
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!
Rating:
Summary: A Royal Duty
Review: This a BEAUTIFUL book. Mr. Burrell clearly loves the Queen and The Princess. After reading this book, the Royal family really has nothing to fear from the butler. But I wish I could throw some eggs at the Spencers right now. ;)
Rating:
Summary: What's all the fuss about... a flattering portrait.
Review: I was surprised when I read this book. I expected a hatchet job of the entire royal family. What I found was a balanced portrait that was universally flattering to all the royals- even Prince Charles received a tempered treatment though Burrell did further expose his propensity for the occassional tantrum. The Spencers did not fare as well but can they really throw stones at Burrell after opening the family estate as a money making machine (aka museum)? There were surprises but nothing earth shaking. I felt that Burrell had a lot of affection for his employer and truly cared for her welfare and the protection of her memory. This read felt like a tribute rather than an assault on the memory of the people's princess.
Rating: 
Summary: Difficult Subject Matter
Review: Nobody disliked Diana. She was known as the people's princess. Because of that if author and confidant Paul Burrell didn't handle his address of her life with delicate hands he would infuriate a world population. Thus Burrell treats the memory of Princess Diana with care and respect. The only problem with this is that it means that there isn't much for the reader to sink their teeth into. The two best biographies lately are LIVING HISTORY (Hillary Clinton) and MY FRACTURED LIFE (Rikki Lee Travolta) because they hit on touchy issues and fan the fires of controversy (yet with their fair share of tender moments and heart ache). I don't think that approach would work with a Princess Diana story so I don't fault Burrell for writing a respectful account. He does the best he can with the limitations. However those limitations made it certain before he started writing that this wasn't going to be a biting book like Living History or My Fractured Life.
Rating:
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.
Rating:
Summary: A Royal Duty/ An excellent read
Review: Mr. Burrell comes across as very plausible and I believe every word he has written. Those who deride the contents of this book should not have left him out in the cold so long and they wouldn't have anything to fear now. I would imagine that this book would never have been written if the establishments attempt at character assassination had succeeded. I always thought that the only person with questionable behavior was Diana's brother Charles. The money generating machine he has operating at his country estate on his sister's back is beyond tabloid disgust. I hope that Paul can now recieve some peace from his loss knowing that he has done all that he can do for the Princess to correct the grievous miscarriages of what her wishes would have been. As an Anglophile and reader of nearly every royal book published, I can state catagorically that this is by far the best. Well done Paul and thank you for sharing with the world and giving the future world what it was REALLY like to be in the Royal household in the later part of the twentieth century.
Rating:
Summary: Read the book this before you Judge it !
Review: I am sick of hearing so many people saying " oh what a disgrace" concerning this book,without having read it!!! This book is a beautiful tribute, and somewhat autobiographical. Burrell told his own story. Diana was a large part of that story.
There is really very little that has not been told before. A few things but mainly this author set the record straight on many things. If anything, he defended the Princess. Defended her relationship with the Queen, Prince Phillip and gave greater understanding of Diana's relationship with her "blood" family. He was carful to clarify things that were misrepresented in the past. BR> Much of the book, is about this man who rose from humble beginnings to become a trusted butler for the Royal Family. It gives the reader a look "through the Keyhole" into life behind the doors of the Palace. This was a kind of "Upstairs Downstairs" look at the Royals. I found a new respect for those people who do this type of work. He speaks of his own inner turmoil, his own physical exhaustion from the rigorous royal duties.
Clearly, he loved Diana in a unconditional way.. in spite of her flaws. This is a wonderful and worthwhile read for those who find Royal Life interesting,and Diana a mystery. It is far from exploitive. It is a nice well written book to curl up and enjoy. A must read for any Diana fan!
Rating: 
Summary: Colossal Waste of Time
Review: Based on self-serving hearsay, this is a book of gossip, pure and simple. If you care about these parasitic people and their racist enclaves, you may be willing to swallow it whole. Otherwise, spare yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Why the Concern?
Review: This is a lively, informitive and interesting book. Why the Concern? Thank you Paul Burrell for filling us in on daily life in the Royal Household and taking us beyond the veil without damaging the image.
We have hungered for information on The Princess' life in leiu of a momument or some rememberence of her.
What a lovely read this is! Thank you.
Gail
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