LONDON, Nov 29: The former butler to Princess Diana, once described by her as her “rock,” was on Thursday committed to stand trial by jury accused of stealing hundreds of items from the royal family.

Paul Burrell, 43, was bailed to appear at the Old Bailey, London’s central criminal court, on January 10.

He is charged with three counts of theft relating to 328 items said to have been stolen from Diana’s residence, Kensington Palace, between January 1, 1997 and June 30, 1998.

They include personal photographs and negatives, crockery, jewellery, hats, clothes, cards, compact discs, ornaments and letters.

Among them, prosecutors allege, were letters from Diana to Prince William, her elder son, signed: “Mummy.”

Of the 328 items, 302 belonged to her or her estate, 22 to William and four to Prince Charles, her ex-husband and heir to the throne.

Thursday’s 15-minute hearing was a formality, as Burrell’s solicitors have previously stated that he plans to plead not guilty.

Police say it is impossible to put a price tag on the stolen treasures but experts estimate their total value could be well over five million pounds (7.2 million dollars).—AFP