Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell remembers Prince Philip as a ‘practical, no nonsense man who didn’t suffer fools’ but was ‘always attentive’ to the Queen
- Former servant of Royal Household Paul Burrell spoke of late Prince Philip today
- Said today the Duke of Edinburgh of ‘didn’t like fuss’ or ‘pomp and pageantry’
- Described royal as a ‘very practical man’ who could leave grown men trembling
- Says he ‘always knew the direction, what he wanted to do and wanted to achieve’
Paul Burrell has described Prince Philip was a ‘practical, no nonsense man who didn’t suffer fools’ but insisted he’s ‘always been attentive’ of the Queen.
The former servant of the British Royal Household admitted that the Duke of Edinburgh could be ‘very gruff’, and that his matter of fact approach could leave ‘grown men in tears’.
Appearing on Lorraine today, he revealed that while he could be assertive when it came to ‘what he wanted to do and wanted to achieve, he was ‘a gentleman’ when it came to Her Majesty.
Reflecting on how the Queen will be feeling following the death of her husband, Paul, 62, said the monarch has ‘lost the captain of her ship’ and that in private, Philip ran the House of Windsor.
Paul Burrell has described Prince Philip was a ‘practical, no nonsense man who didn’t suffer fools’ but insisted he’s ‘always been attentive’ of the Queen. Pictured, the duke attending the wedding of Princess Eugenie in 2018
Appearing on Lorraine today, he revealed that while he could be assertive when it came to ‘what he wanted’, Philip was always a ‘gentleman’ when it came to the Queen
‘He was a very practical, no nonsense man and sometimes very gruff’, said Paul, ‘And he at times frightened the living day lights out of me.
‘He was very aggressive at times and very vocal, I’ve seen grown men come out of his room in tears. Prince Philip knew always the direction, what he wanted to do and wanted to achieve.’
Speaking on the Queen’s relationship with the duke, he said that while Philip didn’t like the ‘pomp and pageantry’ around Her Majesty, he always put her first.
‘He was a very practical man’, said Paul, ‘He didn’t suffer fools, he didn’t like the fuss. He didn’t like all the pomp and pageantry around the Queen but put up with it, because that’s what she did.
He called Philip a ‘practical, no nonsense man who didn’t suffer fools’ but insisted he’s ‘always been attentive’ of the Queen. Her Majesty is pictured with the Duke of Edinburgh in 2007
‘Prince Philip was always attentive of the Queen, he was a gentleman with the Queen, he would mix her favourite martini in her sitting room at night and take her a glass through while she was dressing.
‘They spent a great deal of time together.’
He revealed how the monarch always ‘remained calm’, recalling once when Philip lost his temper in the Queen’s sitting room because Her Majesty’s corgis were blocking the door.
‘She always remained calm’, said Paul, ‘He was the one who was off like a volcano, I remember once standing in the Queen’s sitting room, the bedroom door was trying to open.
Speaking on the Queen’s relationship with the duke, he said that while Philip didn’t like the ‘pomp and pageantry’ around Her Majesty, he always put her first
‘The corgis were fast asleep like door stops and he couldn’t get through and he was cursing and shouting and said, “I don’t know why you have so many f**** dogs!”.
‘And she looked at him calmly and said ‘But darling they’re so collectable’.
The Queen on Friday announced with ‘deep sorrow’ the death of her husband at the age of 99, her ‘strength and guide’ throughout their 73-year marriage and her 69-year reign.
Speaking of her loss, Paul added: ‘She’s lost the captain of her ship, Prince Philip was the CEO of the house of Windsor, he was her wingman.
‘And in private, the boss. He ran everything, he always considered the Queen first of course.’