 Burrell entered Royal Service at age 18 as a Buckingham Palace footman, becoming the Queen's personal footman a year later.He was nicknamed "Small Paul", to distinguish him from a taller footman, Paul Whybrew, who was known as "Tall Paul".In 1987 Burrell joined the household of Charles and Diana at Highgrove House, Gloucestershire, acting as butler to the princess until her death in August 1997.