Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Lifestyle
Kristin Contino

Exclusive: Former Royal Butler Reveals the "Hilarious" Christmas Fire Fiasco that Made the Royal Family "Collapse With Laughter"

Queen Elizabeth wearing a blue dress standing in front of a Christmas tree.

Queen Elizabeth absolutely loved it when something went wrong during her precisely scheduled public engagements, so it's no wonder that one incident at Sandringham became the talk of the Royal Family for years to come. Christmas at Sandringham House might run like "clockwork," but former royal butler Paul Burrell says that every so often, a mishap occurred, and it was these moments that became the most memorable.

Speaking exclusively to Marie Claire on behalf of Casino.org, Burrell—who worked for both Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth over his royal career—describes one "disaster" when a staff member quite literally set himself on fire during dinner.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.