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Paul Burrell on friendship with Diana: 'I think she understood my sexuality'

She never saw race in anyone, she never saw colour in anyone. She saw people and she saw me as a person.

Paul Burrell

The man Princess Diana called her 'rock' joined Good Morning Britain today to talk about his friendship with the iconic woman on the 20th anniversary of her death.

Paul Burrell, who was the princess's butler and confidante and recently came out as gay, told us that he thought Diana was aware of his sexuality but he knew it didn't matter to her.

"We never had that discussion but it was implicit in everything we did," he told GMB."I chose her dresses, I did wonderful flower arrangements, I chose her jewels. I was her best friend. I think she understood my sexuality.

"She never saw sexuality in anyone. She never saw race in anyone, she never saw colour in anyone. She saw people and she saw me as a person."

When asked whether Diana's death ruined his life he told us: "No, it made me a better person," before explaining how seeking therapy helped him to come to terms with hiding his sexuality for so long and that he feels "blessed" that he was friends with her.

"What an incredible, unique, inspirational human being the princess was," he said. "And I was her friend."

Watch the full interview above

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