The Queen’s former butler Paul Burrell has spoken publically for the first time following the news of her death.
Her Majesty passed away on September 9 aged 96. She has reigned over the United Kingdom since 1952 and is the country’s longest-serving monarch.
READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II to be reunited with Prince Philip as final resting place confirmed
Paul, 64, a former servant of the British Royal Household, shared his “devastation” following her Majesty's passing, whom he called his “surrogate mother”.
In his first interview with TalkTV, he choked back tears as he recalled the moment he heard the sad news of the Queen’s death.
He said: “I couldn’t believe it. I am devastated to know the Queen is no longer there. For me, she was my surrogate mother in many ways, she was incredibly warm.”
Paul even revealed how Her Majesty not only introduced him to his wife, but even arranged their honeymoon.
He said: "She’s been a big part of my life as she has for everyone in our country, but for me – standing by her for eleven years and travelling the world with her – she was always there for me and my wife and my children in our early days."
“In fact she instigated me getting married in the first place. She said, ‘Paul, you’ll find marriage is a wonderful institution once you have children. The glue that holds your family together are your children. You won’t regret it.
“And so I married Prince Philip’s maid and she said, ‘Where are you going on your honeymoon?’ and I said. ‘We’re thinking of going to Rhyl your Majesty.’ ‘Rhyl?’ she said. ‘Not that Rhyl isn’t a place to go, to but you’ll go to Balmoral.
“So she sent us to Balmoral for our honeymoon, and nine months later our first son arrived so I have a lot to thank the Queen for.”
In a tear-jerking conversation, the former footman revealed his enduring memories of the monarch, adding: “She’s always been there – wonderful, incredible, selfless.
Paul said: “She was a good boss, she looked after the people who looked after her".
He added: "She was always there for the people that served her and she took a personal interest in their lives. I can’t tell you how many times she intervened in my family life.
“She was such a wonderful lady and I just can’t believe that she’s not there anymore.
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