INTERVENTION by the Queen in the Paul Burrell trial was today cited for the collapse of a case against a Royal butler from Kent accused of stealing from Princess Diana.

Before his trial even started Harold Brown, from Tunbridge Wells, walked free from the Old Bailey cleared of theft after the prosecution offered no evidence against him or jeweller Jan Havlik who was charged with handling stolen goods.

Prosecutor William Boyce, blaming the Burrell trial and its aftermath, said the case against 51-year-old Mr Brown, had been "significantly weakened".