Possessions will now be given to Charles

Most of the hundreds of personal letters and possessions removed from Paul Burrell's home are expected to be returned to Prince Charles and his sons, St James Palace said yesterday. Nearly 300 items that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales will continue to be held by Scotland Yard until the rightful ownership can be agreed.

But with Mr Burrell insisting he was merely looking after many of them for safe keeping it seems unlikely there will be a legal tussle. The future of articles he says were given to him and his wife, Maria, as gifts by the Princess is unclear. A spokesman from St James Palace said: "There is a reasonable expectation that many of them [the Princess's items] will be returned, but we will have to wait and see what happens."

Among the papers seized by officers who visited Mr Burrell's home in Cheshire were intimate cards written to Prince William by his mother. Twelve cards from Diana to William using his pet name Wombat were so personal their content was not read in open court, merely placed before the jurors.

The jury was also shown dozens of photographsof the items taken from Mr Burrell's house, which included Diana's dresses, shoes and hats, a pair of her pyjamas, and highly personal letters.

Another letter, found in a bench seat, was sent to William by his nanny, Olga Powell, consoling the 10-year-old on the news that his parents were splitting up. Police told the court Mr Burrell's home was crammed with CDs and LPs signed by Diana, her designer clothing, photos of her with Charles and their sons and personal letters.

Prosecution witnesses, including Diana's mother and sisters, testified that Mr Burrell had no legal reason for keeping her personal photographs and letters. Mr Burrell has said he feared that there was a conspiracy to undermine her legacy.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the property is in the control of police. "If there is a dispute about ownership there needs to be some sort of court decision on who their rightful owner is," a CPS spokesman said.

It is believed Mr Burrell and the executors of Diana's estate are likely to discuss which items will be returned to the Princess's estate. With all the negative publicity in the past few weeks, neither the Palace or Mr Burrell are likely to want to become involved in any public dispute.