The chain of events that led to a legal fiasco

1997

August 31: Diana, Princess of Wales dies in a Paris car crash. Paul Burrell flies to the French capital and accompanies the body back to Britain.

November 13: The Queen awards Mr Burrell the Royal Victorian Medal for service to the Royal Family.

November 15: A committee is established to decide on a memorial to Diana. Mr Burrell is appointed as a member.

1998

December 19: Mr Burrell leaves the Memorial Fund in acrimonious circumstances. Chief executive Andrew Purkis claims Mr Burrell "would dearly love to be more of a media personality".

2000

November 19: Mr Burrell says he is baffled by reports that police want to question him about missing property.

2001

January 18: Police raid Mr Burrell's Cheshire home at 6.50am and arrest him. They spend all day searching his house and removing items he is later accused of stealing from Diana and Prince William.

March 24: The Prince of Wales reportedly tells friends he does not want Mr Burrell prosecuted because his sons Princes William and Harry will be drawn into the investigation.

August 16: Mr Burrell is charged with stealing 342 items belonging to Diana, Prince William and the Prince of Wales.

October 24: Mr Burrell's brother, Graham, is arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen goods.

November 28: Mr Burrell is committed to stand trial at the Old Bailey.

2002

January 11: The trial is delayed to avoid clashing with the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

August 8: Graham Burrell is told he will not face charges and police discontinue their inquiries into him.

October 14: As the case finally gets under way, Mr Burrell pleads not guilty to three counts of theft.

October 16: The trial is dramatically halted on its third day when the entire jury is discharged for legal reasons.

October 17: The second trial begins with the judge admitting she is deliberately keeping part of the case away from the public to protect Princes William and Harry.

October 29: Day nine of the trial gets underway but it is abruptly halted for a second time, with the jury sent home until further notice.

November 1: The trial collapses with Mr Burrell found not guilty on all charges.