Mr Paul Burrell, a butler to Princess Diana, plundered her intimate possessions after she died and quietly stowed them in his loft, the Old Bailey in London heard yesterday.
He allegedly stole ornaments, letters and personal family photographs, including snaps taken at Prince Harry's birth. Photographs of Harry and Prince William in the bath were described as "prurient" by Mr William Boyce QC, prosecuting, who questioned how much such pictures could be sold for.
The former royal servant - dubbed "my rock" by Princess Diana - allegedly took the items, including one of the princess's nightdresses, in the months when the world was mourning her sudden and tragic death, it was alleged.
But in a statement to police, Mr Burrell maintained that the princess would have "entirely approved of and sanctioned" his actions, the court heard.
Claiming he was her "closest male confidant" and "knew all her secrets", Mr Burrell said he had spoken to her the night before her August 1997 death and she had told him: "Promise me you will always be there."
He said: "I had absolutely no dishonest intent only to preserve as decently and respectfully as possible the memory of the Princess of Wales."
But the court heard that Mr Burrell stashed possessions in the loft, bedroom wardrobe, in the stairwell and stuffed in a desk in his study at the Cheshire home he shares with his wife, Maria, and teenage sons.
Mr Burrell (44) pleads not guilty to three counts of theft comprising 310 items belonging to Diana, the Prince of Wales and Prince William.
Referring to the photographs, Mr Boyce said: "The crown draws attention to these images as potentially very valuable images for which people would pay good money," he said.
But he stressed: "It is not suggested that Mr Burrell had a prurient interest, but it's the sort of image that should not be available to anyone other than the family." There was a letter in the handwriting of the princess's brother, Earl Spencer, and Mr Boyce said: "This is totally personal, intimate family relationships, and Mr Burrell had it."
Although there are dozens of witnesses to be heard, including Diana's sister and her mother, Ms Frances Shand Kydd, it is not expected the Prince of Wales or Prince William will take the stand. - (PA)