The Queen was most ‘concerned about blood on her bed sheets’ when intruder broke in

The Queen was ‘more concerned about blood on her bed sheets than her own safety’ when intruder Michael Fagan broke into her Buckingham Palace bedroom clutching a broken ash tray, Paul Burrell claims

  • Paul Burrell, 62, appeared on C4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch and spoke of The Crown
  • Told of 1982 incident where intruder Michael Fagan broke into Queen’s  bedroom
  • Claimed Queen was more concerned about sheets being spoiled than safety

The Queen was ‘more concerned about blood on her bed sheets than her own safety’ when intruder Michael Fagan broke into her Buckingham Palace bedroom in July 1982, a former servant to the royal household has claimed. 

Paul Burrell, 62, who served as a footman for the Queen and later butler to Diana for 10 years until her death in 1997, appeared on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch today.

He spoke of the time when Mr Fagan, then 33, scaled the Palace’s 14ft parameter wall for the second time in two months, shinned up a drain pipe and climbed through an unlocked window.

Speaking of the Queen’s reaction at the time, Paul explained: ‘She said: ‘I was fast asleep and then I suddenly heard somebody come into my room. I felt pressure on my bed – someone sat on the bed.”

‘She said: ‘I thought it was Peggy coming to wake me up, but Peggy doesn’t sit on my bed. I switched on the light and there’s a man, and he’s clutching a broken ashtray and he’s bleeding onto my sheets.’

‘She was more concerned about her sheets being spoiled than she was for her own safety. Practical the queen.’ 

Paul Burrell appeared on Channel 4's Steoh's Packed Lunch today and claimed the Queen was 'more concerned about blood on her bed sheets than her own safety' when intruder Michael Fagan broke into her Buckingham Palace bedroom in July 1982. Pictured, Her Majesty attends the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 09, 2020 in London

Paul Burrell appeared on Channel 4's Steoh's Packed Lunch today and claimed the Queen was 'more concerned about blood on her bed sheets than her own safety' when intruder Michael Fagan broke into her Buckingham Palace bedroom in July 1982. Pictured, Her Majesty attends the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 09, 2020 in London

Paul Burrell appeared on Channel 4’s Steoh’s Packed Lunch today and claimed the Queen was ‘more concerned about blood on her bed sheets than her own safety’ when intruder Michael Fagan broke into her Buckingham Palace bedroom in July 1982. Pictured, Her Majesty attends the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 09, 2020 in London

The former servant to the royal household (pictured) spoke of the time when Mr Fagan, then 33, scaled the Palace's 14ft parameter wall for the second time in two months, shinned up a drain pipe and climbed through an unlocked window

The former servant to the royal household (pictured) spoke of the time when Mr Fagan, then 33, scaled the Palace's 14ft parameter wall for the second time in two months, shinned up a drain pipe and climbed through an unlocked window

The former servant to the royal household (pictured) spoke of the time when Mr Fagan, then 33, scaled the Palace’s 14ft parameter wall for the second time in two months, shinned up a drain pipe and climbed through an unlocked window

Michael Fagan, 70, of north London, has recent;y described the fifth episode of the new series of The Crown, which features his infamous break-in, as a 'complete fiction' and accused creator Peter Morgan of having his 'own agenda'. Pictured, in 2006

Michael Fagan, 70, of north London, has recent;y described the fifth episode of the new series of The Crown, which features his infamous break-in, as a 'complete fiction' and accused creator Peter Morgan of having his 'own agenda'. Pictured, in 2006

Fagan in the year of the break-in

Fagan in the year of the break-in

Michael Fagan, 70, who broke into the Queen ‘s Buckingham Palace bedroom in 1982 has criticised Netflix for ‘having a pop at the Queen’. Pictured, in 2006 (left) and in 1982

He continued: ”She said: ‘I pressed my button and eventually the policeman came and took him away.’ 

‘I said, ‘Why was he there?’ and she said: ‘I asked him that and he said he’d come to talk to me about his wife. She said, ‘I don’t think you’re the person you should be speaking too!’

During the episode, presenter Steph McGovern went on to ask Paul why he thinks the Netflix show has caused such an uproar.

‘I think it’s the Diana years has caused the controversy,’ he explained. ‘You have to remember when you’re watching it, you’re not watching a documentary, you’re watching a dramatisation – but there’s a ribbon of truth that runs through it.’

Paul (pictured) warned that while watching The Crown, you 'have to remember when you're watching it, you're not watching a documentary, you're watching a dramatisation - but there's a ribbon of truth that runs through it'

Paul (pictured) warned that while watching The Crown, you 'have to remember when you're watching it, you're not watching a documentary, you're watching a dramatisation - but there's a ribbon of truth that runs through it'

Paul (pictured) warned that while watching The Crown, you ‘have to remember when you’re watching it, you’re not watching a documentary, you’re watching a dramatisation – but there’s a ribbon of truth that runs through it’

‘As a viewer, you have to work out what’s true, and what’s false. I don’t have to do that – these are my years. I was there, I witnessed it first-hand and was a part of it. 

Michael Fagan slams The Crown for ‘having a pop at the Her Majesty’ as he compares ‘shoddy’ Buckingham Palace to the ‘Addams Family house’ 

The man who broke into the Queen’s Buckingham Palace bedroom in 1982 has criticised Netflix for ‘having a pop at the Queen’.

Michael Fagan, 70, of north London, described the fifth episode of the new series of The Crown, which features his infamous break-in, as a ‘complete fiction’ and accused creator Peter Morgan of having his ‘own agenda’.

Speaking to FEMAIL, he said: ‘He’s got his own agenda. The people that wrote The Crown, they’ve got an agenda. I bet the rest of it is a fiction as well. They’ve just done it to have a pop at the Queen.’

The show has come under fire for fictionalising history in a way that portrays senior royals including the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in a negative light.

It came as Mr Fagan compared ‘shoddy’ Buckingham Palace to the house from the ‘Addams Family’ and pointed out the Queen did not have a four-poster bed, as the show suggests.

In July 1982, Mr Fagan, then 33, scaled the Palace’s 14ft parameter wall for the second time in two months, shinned up a drain pipe and climbed through an unlocked window.

He walked into the Queen’s bedroom and pulled back the curtain to her bed, prompting Her Majesty to ask, ‘What are you doing here?’

But unlike the dramatic scene shown in The Crown, there was no long conversation between Fagan (played by Tom Brooke) and the Queen (Olivia Colman) at her bedside about Margaret Thatcher’s policies and the struggles of the working class.

The Crown also shows Mr Fagan breaking a valuable vase during his escapades, something which he says was made up.

He continued: ‘It’s a complete fiction, the bit about me and the Palace. All of it is a complete fiction. It was a fiction, I wouldn’t have a go at the Queen.

 ‘Everything about it is fiction. I didn’t speak to the Queen. I didn’t see anybody, all that ducking and diving. I just sat and waited for someone to come by.’

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‘So when I sat and binge-watched all of it, I realised some of it is true, but some of it is wide off the mark. There is a danger here of a script writer re-writing history.’

When presenter Steph asked whether he thinks that matters, Paul replied: ‘It matters to the reputation of the royal family and of course, Diana. 

‘I feel that she struggled so long and hard for what she achieved and that shouldn’t be altered by a script writer. The truth should shine through.’

Steph went on to ask the former royal servant what he thinks Princess Diana would’ve made of Netflix’s The Crown.  

‘I think she would’ve been gobsmacked by the whole process of being portrayed in a movie on television,’ he explained. ‘The drama that you’re seeing on The Crown, she wouldn’t have recognised some of it.’

Her Majesty’s former personal footman went on to discuss what he referred to as the most controversial part of the Netflix show – the Princess of Wales’ bulimia sequences. 

‘They showed it in very graphic detail,’ said Paul. ‘There’s a way of doing that without showing the actual event itself. 

‘She would’ve wanted to raise awareness for that particular disorder because she suffered with it throughout her life.’

She used to say to me: ‘My old friend came back knocking at the door again.’ For her, that was her only way of gaining control of her life.’

Host Steph also picked out elements of The Crown and asked Paul to give his take on whether they were fact or fiction.

Speaking of Charles’ cruelty to Princess Diana, Paul claimed: ‘I’m afraid that’s fact. She said to me, ‘I thought when I married him he would be there for me to support me, support me and comfort me – but he wasn’t.’

‘He did do cruel things. He said to her one day when she came down the stairway and was wearing a beautiful tartan dress. He was talking to some people by the door and she said, ‘Charles do you like my dress? I’ve had it made especially for this visit.’

He turned around and looked at her and said: ‘Well you look like a British Caledonian air stewardess.’ Then continued talking to the people he was with. 

‘He was jealous of her popularity. Her star rose, and his didn’t. She was far more popular than he was – and he didn’t like…I witnessed it first-hand, the upset behind closed doors, the in-fighting, the problems that Diana had and then she of course, would turn to Bulimia.’ 

Steph also questioned whether there was any truth in the portrayal of the Queen’s ‘cold’ relationship with Prince Philip.

‘That’s wrong,’ said Paul. ‘I was with the Queen from 1976-1987 and I can tell you Her Majesty is a warm kind, generous Christian lady. 

She adores Prince Philip. They do have a mutual union. They are husband and wife behind scenes. The coldness is wrong.

‘That’s what you see on the outside – you see the Queen in her role as monarch – and she takes it very seriously. Behind closed doors, she’s a different person – and that’s not what came across in The Crown. She’s a lovely person. 

‘And the sleeping arrangements – all of that business about the Queen going to one end and Prince Philip going to the other end – that didn’t happen. They had a joint bedroom in the middle. They have a very secure marriage. He’s been there for the Queen all these years and he is her rock.’

Next up, Steph asked whether Princess Diana had a crash course in royal etiquette – as shown in the Netflix series. 

Paul Burrell served as a footman for the Queen and later butler to Diana for 10 years until her death in 1997. Pictured, Paul with Diana in 1997

Paul Burrell served as a footman for the Queen and later butler to Diana for 10 years until her death in 1997. Pictured, Paul with Diana in 1997

Paul Burrell served as a footman for the Queen and later butler to Diana for 10 years until her death in 1997. Pictured, Paul with Diana in 1997

‘Not true,’ said Paul. ‘Princess Diana was pushed in at the deep end and told to swim. There isn’t a rule book that royals are given when they’re incoming. It’s a sort of ‘feel your way’ and make your own mistakes.

‘Is it any wonder that poor Meghan didn’t survive when she went in to the family? She went in as an American, divorced, mixed race actress – my goodness, she went in with a lot of baggage.’ 

Speaking of why the Duchess of Sussex may have had a struggle, Paul continued: ‘I think because the Queen and Prince Philip and members of royal family are busy doing what they have to do. 

‘They’re too busy working to worry about every other single member of royal family. They’re left to get on with it. People coming into the family just have to make the best of it they can.’ 

And asked what he think Princes William and Harry will make of The Crown, Burrell said: ‘Prince Harry has just signed a deal with Netflix, the people making The Crown. He obviously knew they were making The Crown before this happened and he obviously knew they’d come to the Diana years. 

‘I don’t know whether he’ll have any input behind the scenes, maybe he will, maybe he’ll be able to influence this. I don’t think the royals will be very happy with the portrayal they’re hearing about – they won’t watch it – because it’s a twist on reality.’

Steph’s Packed Lunch, 12.30pm on Channel 4

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIFTH EPISODE OF THE CROWN? 

The fifth episode of the new series, which launched on Sunday, opens with global news reports of a break-in at Buckingham Palace: an intruder had climbed over a fence and into the palace grounds, before scaling a drainpipe and entering the royal quarters. 

During the episode, Tom Brooke’s Michael Fagan struggles to cope with the breakup of his relationship and can be seen joining long lines of people signing up for the dole.

As he sits on the bus driving past Buckingham Palace, he is inspired to break in by scaling a fence and entering the grounds.

He enters the building through a window and is able to walk into the throne room, where he sits in one of the thrones, before drinking a bottle of wine and smashing a vase.

Later, Prince Philip and the Queen, who are staying at Windsor, are told about the intruder at the palace.

In another scene, Fagan breaks in again by smashing a window, before strolling through the palace and into the Queen’s bedroom. 

The intruder approaches the Her Majesty’s bedside, where she is asleep and drowsily wakes up, mistaking him for Prince Philip. After Fagan sits on the bed, the Queen wakes up with a start and demands that he ‘get out’.

Fagan tells her he just ‘wants to tell her what’s going on in the country…because either ‘she doesn’t know or doesn’t care’.’

When the Queen tries to reach for the phone, Fagan pulls it from her hand and ask her to ‘give him a minute.’ 

He explains: ‘I just thought it might be good for you to meet someone normal who can tell it to you as it is.’ 

The pair discuss the state of the building, with Fagan calling it ‘rundown’, before the conversation turns to politics.

Fagan tells her: ‘You’re my last resort, someone who can actually do something.’  He pleads with the monarch to ‘save us all from her… Thatcher. She’s destroying the country.’  

The Queen, dressed in her nightgown, sits down with Fagan to tell him ‘the state can help with all of this’ .

They discuss where he lives, as well as whether Thatcher is becoming too ‘presidential’, with Fagan warning the monarch that ‘she’ll be after your job.’

The conversation ends with the interruption of a maid with the Queen’s morning tea, who fetches a policeman.

As the security guard bursts into the room, the Queen shakes his hand and tells him: ‘I shall bear in mind what you’ve said.’ 

Later Margaret Thatcher goes on to apologize to the Queen for the ‘troublemaker’ who ‘resorted to violence’ by breaking into the palace.

The Queen tells her: ‘He wasn’t violent. The only person he hurt was himself. While he may be a troubled soul, I don’t think he’s entirely to blame for it himself.’

She goes on to cite unemployment figures to Thatcher, who says: ‘If unemployment is temporarily high, it is a necessary side effect to the medicine we are administering to the British economy.’

But the Queen expresses sympathy for Fagan, questioning the prime minister about the state of the ‘moral economy’ in the UK.

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