Police 'wrongly told Princes that butler sold royal items' possessions

Police wrongly told the Prince of Wales and Prince William that officers had evidence that the royal butler Paul Burrell had sold "large quantities" of possessions stolen from Diana, Princess of Wales, the Old Bailey was told yesterday.

The claim was made by a senior Scotland Yard officer who spoke to the Princes last year at Highgrove, the country home of Prince Charles, about the progress of the inquiry into the theft allegations against Mr Burrell.

Detectives also alleged that they had seen photographs believed to be of Mr Burrell, the Princess's personal butler for 10 years, dressed in her clothing at a party held after her death in Paris in August 1997.

The pictures, which police said had later been sold to a tabloid newspaper, had been taken as staff at Kensington Palace packed up the designer outfits to be sent abroad, it was claimed.

But the jury of seven men and five women were told yesterday that police were unable to prove either allegation now that the case had come to court.

Mr Burrell, 44, is accused of stealing 310 items, ranging from jewellery to photograph albums, from the estate of the Princess and from Prince Charles and Prince William. He denies the charges.

Lord Carlile QC, for Mr Burrell, claimed that Commander John Yates, the Yard officer who led the briefing of the Princes, and Detective Chief Inspector Maxine de Brunner, who led the investigation, had exaggerated their findings.

Cross-examining Det Ch Insp de Brunner, the lawyer said: "You told the Prince of Wales and Prince William and others at that meeting grossly misleading information about Burrell."

A statement produced for the Princes at the Highgrove meeting in August 2001, some eight months after police found hundreds of items in Mr Burrell's home, was read to the court. It said: "Burrell has indicated to police that he was holding the property in trust for Princes William and Harry. Police are in a position to evidence that large quantities of items have been sold to several dealers."

The statement added that investigations were continuing into the photographs of the party, shown to detectives by an "independent source", to prove that they involved Mr Burrell. It claimed that the pictures had been bought by the Daily Mail.

Lord Carlile said: "No such photograph has been produced in this case which shows Burrell dressing up in clothing belonging to the Princess of Wales. There is no evidence he has been involved in the selling of any item."

Det Ch Insp de Brunner agreed with both Lord Carlile's assertions.

The case continues.