Paul Burrell served the Royal Family for twenty-one years, having arrived at Buckingham Palace as an eighteen-year-old footman in 1976. Within a year, he had been appointed the Queen's personal footman, and he spent ten years by Her Majesty's side at all royal residences and on the Royal Yacht Britannia. In 1987, he became butler to the Prince and Princess of Wales at their country residence, Highgrove. He remained there until the couple's separation in 1992, when the princess requested that he move to Kensington Palace as her butler. Of all the servants, staff and protection officers who ever worked for the princess, Paul was the only one who remained by her side until her death in 1997. Following that tragedy, he was honoured by the Queen with the Royal Victorian Medal in recognition of his loyalty and service to Diana, Princess of Wales. He was also appointed fundraising events manager to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, spearheading the drive that raised 100 million pounds in her memory. He is married to Maria and they live in Cheshire with their two sons, Alexander and Nicolas.