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Ratings: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
Genre: Biography / Memoir / Royal Family

Book Review:
Paul Burrell's ''A Royal Duty'' is one of the most talked-about royal memoirs of recent decades, and for good reason. Burrell was not a distant observer of the royal family; he was at the center of it all for over twenty years. As a servant to the Queen and Prince Charles, and then as Diana's personal butler and confidant, he had access that few could imagine. This book is his account of that life.

The book's greatest strength is its insider perspective. Burrell takes us behind the palace doors, into the private spaces where the royals are not performing for the cameras. We see the Queen as a young woman, Charles as a prince, and Diana in her most vulnerable moments. Burrell's Diana is both ''maddening and lovable,'' as Craig Brown notes in the Mail on Sunday—a complex human being rather than a saint or a victim.

The reviews on the cover reflect the book's impact. Robert McCrum in the Observer calls it ''a vital document'' that any Shakespeare of the Windsors would want to consult. The Sunday Times says ''Diana would have approved'' of this ''classy production.'' The Daily Mirror, perhaps overstating, calls it ''the book of the century.''

But the book is also controversial. Burrell's loyalty was questioned by some who felt he was exploiting his position for profit. The fact that he kept Diana's belongings in his home, including personal letters, and later sold some items, raised eyebrows. Readers will have to decide for themselves whether Burrell's account is a genuine tribute to a beloved princess or a calculated tell-all.

The prose is straightforward and accessible, aimed at general readers rather than literary critics. Burrell writes with obvious affection for Diana, and his grief at her death is palpable. The book covers his entire career, from his early days as a footman to the Queen through his years with Diana and the aftermath of her death.

For royal watchers, this book is essential reading. It offers details and insights not available elsewhere. For those interested in Diana specifically, it provides a portrait from someone who knew her intimately. And for anyone curious about what goes on behind the palace doors, it delivers.

The Penguin edition includes cover photographs of Diana, adding to the book's appeal. It's a well-produced volume that will find a place in any collection of royal biographies.

''A Royal Duty'' is not great literature, but it is a valuable historical document. Burrell tells his story with sincerity, and his account of Diana remains one of the most intimate we have. Recommended for those who can't get enough of the royals.