Queen's Yacht Used For Gay Orgy? Princess Diana's Butler Denies Historic Claims

The former butler for Princess Diana has strongly denied claims, apparently made by his agent, that he once engaged in a gay orgy onboard Queen Elizabeth II’s royal yacht. Agent Adam Muddle reportedly told The Sun newspaper Tuesday that Paul Burrell was involved in the act on the Royal Yacht Britannia with members of the British navy in 1981, leading to a severe dressing down from the queen.

But Burrell, who only on Monday came out as gay and announced he will marry his long-term partner, has insisted that Muddle was not speaking on his behalf.

“I would like to unequivocally distance myself from the gutter quotes, attributed to my representative, that are not only unacceptable but totally misrepresent me,” the 58-year-old father of two told the Daily Mail. “I will review how and why this 'pitch' ever came to pass without my knowledge.”

He added: “I would ask that people judge me on words from my mouth, not what a newspaper predicts I'll say, and not what someone might wish for me to say. I did not commission my agent to say anything along the lines of what's been reported in The Sun.”

In the past, The Sun has been cited as the United Kingdom's least-trusted newspaper.

Muddle, who was listed on his LinkedIn page as the co-founder and head of talent management at AM Concepts UK, alleged, according to The Sun, that Burrell wanted to come out about his part in a scandal that led to the dismissal of several navy officers in an expose of his life with the royal family. At the time that the incident is alleged to have taken place, homosexuality was illegal in the armed forces.

“He wants to talk about the scandal that happened on the Royal Yacht Britannia, which is where members of the navy were dismissed for being caught up in a gay orgy,” Muddle is quoted as saying.

“Paul was there. But he wasn’t arrested or subjected to any sort of criminal charges, because he was the Queen’s right-hand man at that point. It’s believed the Queen pulled him to one side and told him how disappointed she was and told him he had to get back on the right track and find himself a nice girl and become married.”

Two years after the incident was claimed to have taken place, Burrell married Maria, from whom he divorced last year.

Burrell, who worked for Diana until her death in 1997, was described by the former princess of Wales as her “rock.” However, he was criticized as a traitor by many for writing several books detailing his life with Diana. In 2002, Burrell faced trial for stealing 310 items from the princess’ estate before he was cleared after it emerged that he had told the Queen that he was keeping some of Diana’s possessions.