PRINCES William and Harry made public last night their fury at Paul Burrell's "cold and overt betrayal" of their mother. They have every right to be angry.

Mr Burrell was a trusted confidante of Diana. He was in a position of great privilege. He professes to have had a deep love for her.

How can he then, six years after her death, sell her secrets so cheaply?

It is not, as he claims, a tribute to Diana or about bringing out into the open her fears of a sinister plot against her.

He could and should have brought the letters exposing those fears to the investigators at the time of the fatal car crash in Paris six years ago.

He has revealed details about Diana's sex life and private thoughts which must have hurt her two sons deeply.

Despite the intense sadness of their mother's loss and the pressures which come with who they are, the princes have survived so far. They have reached a hugely difficult and sensitive time of their lives and the last thing they need is for all the pain to be brought back so publicly.

Even before Mr Burrell's book is published, the damage has been done. He has taken his 30 pieces of silver and we hope he can live with himself.