Diana’s confidante Paul Burrell dubs birthday boy Harry and his wife Meghan “Ginge and Whinge” and claims ‘entitled’ prince is ‘unrecognisable’ from ‘kind boy’ late Princess knew
Paul Burrell talks about Prince Harry
It was a reunion many Royal watchers feared would never happen. For the first time in 19 months last week, King Charles and Prince Harry have met in the flesh – in what many hoped was the first step towards ending the Windsors’ bitter feud.
The pair spent 55 minutes – and one cup of tea – in each other’s company at Clarence House last Wednesday. But while – five years on from Megxit – relations may finally be thawing between the warring father and son, The Duke of Sussex is now about to feel another huge weight on his shoulders.
For, according to Princess Diana’s one-time “rock” and Royal butler, Paul Burrell, the late Queen of Hearts would have been much “disappointed” by her son’s behaviour these past few years – especially his decision not to support his brother William.
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, he also claims The Sussexes – who he calls “Ginge and Whinge” – “would never have married” if Princess Diana were still alive.
Paul, who lived with the boys throughout their childhoods at Highgrove and Kensington Palace, is hoping his harsh words will be a wake-up call to Harry to end his “petulant” behaviour – including his very public criticism of the royals.
“Would Harry have been disappointed by Harry’s behaviour in the last few years? Yes she would have,” claimed Paul, now 67. “He’s not what Diana would have thought he would have been. Diana’s wish was for Harry to support William throughout his journey to become monarch. But William’s on his own now and he’s resigned to that. To him, his brother can’t be trusted.
“Harry was awfully hurt when his mother died – I know, I was there. He ran into my arms when he returned from the funeral.
“But there’s something about Harry which has gone wrong. Yet William hasn’t gone wrong. And he lost his mother too.”
Paul has known the brothers since they were five and three, but claims he no longer recognises Prince Harry. The statement’s all the more poignant as it implies Harry’s also not the same person his beloved mother knew either.
“I actually applaud Harry for wanting his freedom,” says Paul. “I can see how the royal family is very confining. But it’s the manner in which you do it.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle shares sweet birthday message to Prince Harry
“I just don’t understand all this petulance and entitlement – these are new things which have come his way. And I don’t know who sowed those seeds, because they were never there as a child.
“He had a privileged life, a good life, even though he was ‘the spare’. He used to hand out £5 notes to his friends, which he called ‘blue grannies’. If he forgot his kit for polo practice, a helicopter would be dispatched to fetch it. “They’d often ring from the car on the way back from Highgrove and Harry would shout: ‘We’re just passing granny’s house’, a bit like most kids would do. Except for him, ‘Granny’s House’ was Windsor Castle!”
Frustrated, Paul adds: “So where is that lovely, jokey boy now? He grew up into someone different, almost unrecognisable. “He used to be kind, generous, warm hearted and carefree. Now he cares about everything. So many in Britain today are struggling to pay their mortgages, or buy a school uniform. He doesn’t have any of those problems.
“He’s a petulant prince who has lived a charmed life with every luxury afforded to him. And he just whines about things that really don’t matter.
Paul adds: “And I think that’s why the British people are getting a little bit tired of Ginge and Whinge. I just want to tell him: ‘You’re not the most important person on this planet, Harry! Just grow up’.”
Whether Charles had a similar desire on Wednesday, will stay between the father and son. Paul credits The King’s decision to meet with his prodigal son to his strong Christian beliefs of “forgiveness”.
Tensions exploded between Charles in January 2020, followed by The Sussexes’ explosive Charles, William and Harry with Megxit, while Prince Phillip was on his deathbed. The rift only got worse with the publication of Harry’s book ‘Spare’, Harry and Meghan’s reality show about their new life in Oprah interview in March 2001, and Harry’s High Court case against the Home Office over his lack of police security. All are why Paul was taken aback when Harry recently implied he[ital] was the one expecting an apology from them.[ital]
“I thought ‘Hang on a minute. It’s not them who should be apologising!,” says Paul. “It’s Harry. Harry needs to get down on his knee and give his allegiance both to his brother and The King.”
Not that Paul believes it will do much good when it comes to William. Charles may be able to forgive Harry, but having seen the dynamic between the brothers when they were growing up – and knowing how William thinks about duty and loyalty – Paul is confident there’s no way back for the pair.
“Do you think William can ever forgive him? No,I don’t. I don’t think there is any love lost between Harry and William,” he says. “It happens in families. Brothers become estranged.
“William has asked Harry ‘Please don’t talk about us in public’, ‘Please don’t criticise Papa’, ‘Please don’t do all these things’. But Harry hasn’t listened. He’s continued to do it. It’s beyond comprehension for William to think that if he invites Harry back into his world, he won’t do it again, that he won’t just do another interview on ABC News.”
For someone who this week released a new book, The Royal Insider, it might seem a bit rich. But the former butler says: “I am not William’s brother. It’s different. Family should know the rules of engagement, Harry has forgotten.”
There’s no hiding the fact Paul believes much of the change in Diana’s youngest son followed him falling for Meghan Markle, the glamourous, strong-willed, independent 36-year-old woman. Paul’s adamant the fact she was the same age Diana was when she died and the fact she talked about changing the world just like the late Princess, is what left Harry – who’d been flailing, rebelling and acting out since losing his mum – mesmerised.
However had Montecito, California in 1997, Paul’s convinced the all-American actress would never even had been on the scene “If Diana had lived, Harry would never have married Megan. He wouldn’t have acted out. He wouldn’t have been going to the nightclubs in the West End. He would never have come into contact with her. Harry would have married an English aristocratic girl, settled down, conformed and done his job.”
Either that, or Diana would have been a very hands-on glamorous granny, Paul adds. “I suppose I could also see her moving next door to them in California and offering Meghan advice,” he laughs. “But whether Meghan would take it is another thing.”
Paul’s latest comment will not come as much surprise to 2002 Old Bailey trial collapsed. The two have had a difficult relationship since Paul’s faced various theft charges after being accused of taking Princess Diana’s belongings without permission. The Harry’s many recent legal cases after The Queen informed the court that she had been told he was taking some items for safekeeping. Paul, who always maintained his innocence was completely exonerated.
However court documents in one of Diana made a passing – and unflattering – reference to incident. One reason Paul wrote his new book, out now, was to counter some of the comments from the Prince. He writes: “I am furious my character has been questioned. His mother raised him better.” Harry meanwhile used his own book Spare to air his own feelings.
But when all’s said and done, Paul just wants to help him be the man Diana wanted him to be. Speaking of William and Harry, he smiles: “I was there as they grew up. I love them both, deep down, I do.”
The Mirror approached representatives of Princes William and Harry for comment.
The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana by Paul Burrell is out today, Thursday September 11 (Sphere).
