Princess Diana’s ‘rock’ Paul Burrell comes out as gay and reveals he is about to marry long-term partner – and ‘she was only woman who knew’
Dad-of-two Paul only divorced his wife six months ago after 32 years of marriage - but is ready to tie the knot again in April
PRINCESS Diana’s “rock” Paul Burrell comes out as gay — and reveals he is about to marry his long-term partner.
Dad-of-two Paul, 57, only divorced wife Maria six months ago after 32 years marriage.
He will tie the knot with Graham Cooper, 58, in April.
Ex-butler Paul’s spokesman said: “I can confirm their forthcoming marriage.”
Paul told only one woman he was secretly gay — his beloved Princess Diana.
The married butler has kept his true sexuality strictly private for years.
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A source said: “Paul’s friends and family all know but for a long time he kept it a closely guarded secret.
“And for a time, literally nobody knew.
“He did share it with Diana while he worked with her because they were so close.
“But at the time she was the only woman he felt he could tell.”
Burrell, whose close relationship with Diana has seen him become synonymous with the late Princess, is said to be overjoyed to be marrying lawyer Graham after a 10 year relationship.
Sources said the pair, who are former business partners, kept their romance quiet and Burrell only recently broke the news to his two sons.
His family and close friends were delighted they have found happiness and finally decided to formalise their love.
A source said: “He’s so much happier now that he can tell the world and be comfortable with himself and his relationship.”
They are due to tie the knot in a circus-themed ceremony next month at a five-star venue in the Lake District.
The couple marked their stag do with friends at Blackpool drag club Funny Girls in February.
A source said they had since invited a “limited” number of guests to witness the nuptials.
The ceremony is expected to take place at the start of next month at a hotel with “stunning views.”
It will be decked out in circus colours with waiters dressed as clowns and ringmasters. The source added: “They don’t want too many people there and have limited the guest list to close family and friends.
“But it’s going to be suitably lavish. No expense has been spared. Paul sees this as a new chapter in his life.
“They want to let their hair down and enjoy themselves. Guests have a rough idea of where it will take place.
“But to increase the suspense Paul and Graham have kept the exact details of the venue quiet.”
Burrell, who made his millions spilling Royal secrets, writing books and as a star on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here in 2004, has repeatedly denied claims he is gay — despite various rumours and allegations. In 2008 he faced claims from an alleged former lover that they had been together in secret.
It was also claimed he seduced a male friend of stargazer Russell Grant after they appeared on TV together.
Loyal Maria stood by him but their relationship became so strained they eventually began leading separate lives.
He recently opened up to Maria and their grown up sons Alexander and Nicholas about his decision to wed Graham.
Burrell and Maria met at Buckingham Palace when she was working for the Duke of Edinburgh. They married in 1983. An established tradition suggested one of them should give up their job with the Royal Family — until the Queen steeped in to make an exception.
But towards the end of their marriage the couple spent increasing amounts of time apart.
Maria set up home in Florida while her husband returned to the family’s £500,000 home in Farndon, Cheshire, to run his florists business.
The home, which was raided by police in 2001 amid claims Burrell had stolen items that belonged to Princess Diana, has since been sold.
Burrell was later cleared of any accusations of wrongdoing after the trial collapsed when it emerged he had told the Queen he was keeping some of Diana’s possessions. A public-interest immunity certificate was also produced by the Crown Prosecution Service on the basis that disclosure of certain information would be harmful to the public interest.
Burrell is now believed to be living with Mr Cooper in Peckforton near his former family home.
In a joint statement released last year the Burrells confirmed they were divorcing.
It said: “Our clients Paul and Maria Burrell would like to end any speculation over the past few days by confirming that they are currently going through a divorce.
“The decision to file for divorce was a mutual one, both Paul and Maria remain the best of friends and have two wonderful sons who remain their priority.
“Paul and Maria will not be giving any further comments and would request that their privacy is respected during this time.”
Burrell has repeatedly told of his closeness to Diana.
Six months after her death in a Paris car accident in August 1997, Burrell said his “final duty” was to catalogue her estate.
He said: “I knew I had to do it. Who else could? She was surrounded by the richest, the most educated, the most landed people in the country, and she chose me, a lorry driver’s son from Derbyshire.
“She called me her rock, and I was there.”
Speaking inside the Big Brother House, he described Princess Diana as “lonely” and “desperate”.
He later said the day she died “was probably the saddest day of my life.”
Burrell also said the last words Diana said to him before flying to Paris was “You will be there when I get back won’t you?”