The Royal Insider cover art

The Royal Insider

My Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Royal Insider

By: Paul Burrell
Narrated by: Paul Burrell
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

 THE BRAND NEW REVELATORY ROYAL MEMOIR FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR PAUL BURRELL.

'A moving and at times jaw-dropping account - not just of his two decades when he had a ringside seat at the heart of the Royal Family, but also of the years since,' Richard Kay, DAILY MAIL

'For twenty-one years I was in a privileged position and shared the lives of the Queen and Princess Diana. Now that neither of these two wonderful women are here, that duty continues for me in the need to protect their legacy.'

For over two decades, Paul Burrell was a silent witness to the making of history - first as footman to Queen Elizabeth II, then as butler to King Charles III (then Prince of Wales), and, most famously, as a confidante of the late Princess Diana. Now, with a unique perspective shaped by time and change, he's ready to share his own story alongside theirs.

His bestselling memoir, A Royal Duty, about his friendship with Diana, sent shockwaves around the world, selling over two million copies. But it is only, in the wake of the Queen's passing and the commencement of a new royal era, Burrell feels he can finally tell his story in full.

In this deeply personal and intimate memoir, Burrell shares many untold stories of his life at home and abroad with the Royals. With warmth, candour, and rare insight, he recounts unexpected moments of intimacy with the Queen, who gently guided a fresh-faced, 18-year-old Burrell through palace life.

He speaks candidly about the tensions that simmered during those years - including the breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage and his own complex relationship with Princes William and Harry.

He also reveals his heartache at parting with three of the most significant women in his life - the Queen, Diana and his wife Maria - all while navigating his own personal journey to happiness as well as a battle with prostate cancer.

Heartfelt, sincere and rich in detail, this is the memoir of a man who has lived and learned in the most extraordinary of ways.©2025 Paul Burrell (P)2025 Hachette Audio UK Politics & Activism Royalty Marriage Heartfelt
All stars
Most relevant
Because Paul was there, we get to hear about these beautiful people as they were. Not through the lens of the media. Our beautiful Queen... loved her anyway but this book only makes me love her more. Princess Diana? Love her too. She never beat about the bush about how she was feeling and wore that gorgeous heart on her sleeve. ❤️

Beautifully heart-warming and candid

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
He speaks his truth with authenticity based on his real life experience serving The Queen, King Charles and Princess Diana.

Authenticity!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I very much doubt any recollections of this ‘may vary’. Thankyou Paul fpr protecting the legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales, and for doing the same for HMTQ Elizabeth II. Very much looking forward to William being King with Catherine by his side.

Heartfelt and honest recollections of Paul’s life and truth

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A Masterclass in Royal Memoir – Paul Burrell’s The Royal Insider is Unmissable
From its first page to its final, poignant reflection, The Royal Insider confirms Paul Burrell’s status not only as an insider but as a compelling, truth seeking storyteller.
Hearing Paul Burrell’s voice telling his story makes you feel like he is talking directly to you one on one. He guides you through decades in service, with Queen Elizabeth II, with Diana, and through the shifting tides of monarchy, with candour, courage, and a generous heart. The balance he strikes between reverent affection and unflinching honesty is remarkable.
What sets this memoir apart is its emotional resonance. Paul doesn’t shy away from the tension, the heartbreak, or the extraordinary moments of conflict behind closed royal doors.

The writing, too, is elegant without pretense.

The most moving thread is Burrell’s personal journey. How he has carried the weight of memory, loss, and loyalty through the transitions of royalty, of a changing world, and of his own life and his cancer journey . His disclosures about his friendships, his heartbreaks, and his sense of mission lend the work a gravitas beyond mere royal biography.

In The Royal Insider, Paul Burrell gives us a front‑row seat into history and a profound meditation on what it means to serve, to love, and to endure. This is a must‑read for anyone fascinated by the monarchy, by Diana’s legacy, or by the resilience of one man determined to tell the truth as he lived it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommended.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed hearing Paul’s account of his lived experience. Well done Paul! Diana was very lucky to have had you as part of her close and trusted circle.

Lived Experience

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent book. So many things I learnt about the Monarchy and Princess Di. An Aussie fan.

Enlightening & Entertaining

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.