I haven't written anything about this matter here, because until today I just mentally classed it as "Hello" material. That having been said, I have had a number of conversations about it.
One of the facts that came out a few weeks ago was that among the letters he was charged with stealing were from Prince Philip. Presumably, the ones that read:
Dear Diana. You are a truly wonderful person. I feel not that I have lost a son but a gained a daughter. Lots of love, Your adoring father-in-law Philip.
So, the Queen has decided to condescend to save an innocent man and loyal servant from going down for seven years. What a truly wonderful woman she is. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
How much has this case cost? A million and a half, said the BBC. Perhaps the Queen should be forced to pay out of her own fortune*. The sad and sick thing is that stilll the Stupid People will go on about how wonderful the Royal Family is.
And have to say that I wonder about Burrell. What kind of person would be prepared to spend seven years in prison rather than reveal a material conversation. Loyal, yes, but...get a grip! (And what about loyalty to his own family, who have suffered, and will have suffered more?)
The updated version of the book will sell.
* built up from centuries of expoiting the people and pocketing the income fromthe so-called Crown Estates (aka The Crown Estates)
