Furious William cancels Burrell meeting

Prince William has abandoned plans to meet Paul Burrell because he blames the former royal butler for the latest scandal to embroil Prince Charles.

He is furious that his father has been accused of a bizarre plot to kill his late mother because Mr Burrell handed a private letter to a tabloid newspaper.

Both William and younger brother Harry believe the claim is "outrageous" and that Mr Burrell will betray their family again by not keeping any meeting between them secret.

A senior source said: "William wanted to tell Burrell exactly what he thought of him face to face. But he now believes that any meeting would be used against him. If there was any faint chance of the

princes meeting Burrell it has now slipped off the agenda.

"There is a limit to how many times Burrell can swear he is taking Princess Diana's secrets to the grave and then reveal them a few days later. As far as the princes are concerned he has betrayed them and their mother's memory."

William reportedly fell out with his younger brother over the idea of a meeting. William had wanted to see Mr Burrell to try to persuade him not to reveal more secrets - but Harry refused and made it clear he would snub any meeting.

Prince Charles, who was always concerned about such a confrontation, said he would support his sons whatever they decided to do. But Harry was adamant and called Mr Burrell "two-faced", saying he was always convinced any confrontation with the princes would be turned into a money-spinning circus.

The development comes as controversy continued to surround the inquest and Scotland Yard inquiry into Diana's death. Today a former top royal protection squad police chief called the new investigation ordered by royal coroner Michael Burgess "an absolute travesty".

Retired Chief Superintendent Dai Davies, in charge of protecting the royal family between 1995 and 1998, described the new investigation as a "disgrace".

He said: "It is an absolute travesty and abuse of public money which defies belief and common sense. How many millions of pounds of public cash is going to be squandered on this needless investigation? It is an insult to those who carried out the initial inquiries in France and Britain, and to those in the medical profession who dealt with the princess.

"The suggestion that Prince Charles had anything to do with the princess's death is an outrageous slur. I take grave exception to these allegations being made."

The latest twist finally persuaded-William to reject the Burrellmeeting. He came to his decision-after talking to Harry.

The source added: "Harry was always against a meeting as he felt it was pandering to Burrell's attention-seeking and self-interest."

The former servant said he would not cash in on Diana's memory but changed his mind after the collapse of his Old Bailey trial for theft.

William and Harry, once close to the man Diana apparently called her rock, issued a statement accusing Mr Burrell of "cold and overt betrayal". Against the advice of senior courtiers, William asked his lawyers to arrange a meeting with Mr Burrell, hoping to shame him into future silence.

Prince Philip was among those who believed William, as a future king, should not meet the disgraced ex-butler because it would "dignify his treachery".