Butler police 'grossly misled princes'

Diana called William her 'Dearest Wombat'

Police have been accused of "grossly misleading" Prince Charles and Prince William over allegations of theft against the former butler of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Officers wrongly told the princes there were photos of Paul Burrell and other royal staff dressing in Diana's clothes at parties, the Old Bailey heard on Tuesday.

Police also wrongly told the princes Mr Burrell had sold some of Diana's possessions abroad, the court heard.

Mr Burrell, 44, from Farnham in Cheshire, denies stealing 310 items belonging to the princess' estate, the Prince of Wales and William.

No photograph has been produced in this case that shows Burrell dressing up in clothing belonging to the Princess

Lord Carlile QC, defending

Mr Burrell's counsel Lord Carlile told the jury that police had visited Charles and William in August 2001, eight months after they had found many of Diana's items in Mr Burrell's house.

It was made clear in court that officers had been keen to canvass opinion from the princes on whether a prosecution should go ahead.

Under Lord Carlile's cross-examination, detective chief inspector Maxine de Brunner, who led the investigation, admitted no evidence had subsequently been found which showed Mr Burrell had either dressed in Diana's clothing, or sold any of her property.

'Misconception'

Said Lord Carlile: "You allowed the Prince of Wales and Prince William of Wales, and others, at the meeting to be grossly misled about Mr Burrell. That's the reality isn't it?"

Mr Burrell's home was covered in royal memorabilia

Ms de Brunner insisted: "The reality of it is that when I set out this document, it was based on the intelligence and it was true as we believed it at the time."

The judge intervened to ask her: "Is it right you allowed the two princes to remain under that misconception?"

"Yes," she said.

"Do you consider that you, the police, were under a duty to correct significantly incorrect information placed before the Prince of Wales?" Lord Carlile asked her.

Ms de Brunner: "If I had considered it, I would have done."

'Sloppy and incompetent'

Ms De Brunner also agreed she had told the princes that Mr Burrell had become wealthy following the death of the princess.

She said that at the time of the meeting she had not been aware he had written a very successful book, Entertaining With Style, which had sold 100,000 copies.

Neither was she aware he was able to command substantial fees for making speeches.

Lord Carlile also accused the police of carrying out a "sloppy and incompetent" search of Mr Burrell's home.

No notes were made of where objects were found, and no camera or lights were taken up to Mr Burrell's loft - where much of the property was found - he said.

Detective chief inspector Maxine de Brunner denied misleading the princes

Ms de Brunner said: "There was concern for exactitude but certain mistakes were made, yes."

Earlier, Ms De Brunner described some of the items the police found during their search of the former butler's home.

She said there was a box containing cards from Mother Teresa and the Queen Mother among letters, photographs and negatives belonging to Diana.

There was also an exercise book in which Prince William had written his school work, and cards from Diana to him which opened "Dear Wombat" and ended "Love Mummy".

Ms de Brunner said when Mr Burrell was asked: "Is there anything that you have here that has been taken from Kensington Palace?" he had replied: "No."