Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell is to marry his boyfriend next month, less than a year after divorcing his wife of 32 years.
Mr Burrell, described by the late Princess of Wales as her “rock”, is due to tie the knot with his partner Graham Cooper in the Lake District.
The 58-year-old father-of-two, who now runs a flower shop in Cheshire, divorced his wife Maria, 62, last year.
Mr Burrell’s spokesman has confirmed the forthcoming marriage, according to The Sun.
The wedding is the first public acknowledgement he is gay. A statement released last June on behalf of Mr Burrell and his ex wife Maria confirmed they were “currently going through a divorce”.
A source told The Sun: “Paul’s friends and family all know but for a long time he kept it a closely guarded secret.
“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.”
Mr Burrell’s two grown up sons sons Alexander, 27, and Nicholas, 24, who live in Florida with Maria, are expected to fly over to attend the wedding ceremony, which will reportedly be “circus themed”.
Mr Burrell was once a footman to Queen Elizabeth II and later Diana’s private butler for 10 years.
He has claimed that the princess described him as the “only man I ever trusted”.
Mr Burrell is a controversial figure. In October 2002 he was accused of stealing items from the royal household however the Old Bailey trial collapsed at the last minute when the Queen remembered Mr Burrell told her he was safeguarding some of Princess Diana's possessions.
He was also accused of a major breach of trust when he revealed Royal secrets in two best-selling books in 2003 and 2006.
He has also made appearances on reality TV shows I'm a Celebrity and Coach Trip.
