Overview

• Paul Burrell, a onetime footman to Queen Elizabeth II and later butler to King Charles III, details the claims in The Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana.
• He writes that early in the couple’s marriage the newlyweds refused to leave their bed, delaying housekeeping and prompting complaints up the chain to the Master of the Household.
• Burrell says irregular, lavish entertaining ran the kitchen like an à la carte service, exhausting staff accustomed to set meal times and triggering a staff rebellion.
• According to the memoir, the Master of the Household relayed the unrest to the Queen, who then intervened to curb waste and restore routine.
• The book portrays Prince Andrew as besotted with Sarah Ferguson yet difficult for staff, mentions a staff nickname of “Gin Palace” for Buckingham Palace, and notes Ferguson recently lost patronages after a leaked email to Jeffrey Epstein.