Diana’s former butler: ‘Prince Harry is taking a leaf out of his mother’s book’

Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell has a lot to say about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, telling New! magazine the prince is "taking a leaf out of his mother's book" by freezing out Meghan's father Thomas Markle.

Burrell, 60, added that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" when it comes to how Prince Harry chooses to deal with someone who has betrayed his trust, commenting that Diana would have been "furious" over the situation.

The former butler says Meghan, 37, has something “Diana never had” as she deals with the fallout of her outspoken family – that being “a man stood beside her who truly adores her”.

Princess Diana's marriage to Prince Charles was famously difficult, ending in divorce in 1996.

"I've been in similar situations where people said things about Princess Diana, and the way she dealt with it was by freezing them out," Burrell says.

"It looks as if Harry has taken a leaf out of his mother's book. Diana said, 'Once someone burns the bridge of trust towards you it's very hard to repair it.'"

RELATED: Harry and Meghan's Charles and Diana moment

He also said, "Harry is his mother's son and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...she would be furious if someone betrayed her and the only way she could deal with it is to cut them off completely."

Burrell says life is "not going to be easy" for the Duchess of Sussex, but with the support of Prince Harry should find her way through it.

The former butler has previously commented that Meghan may have longed for the fame that being a royal has brought her but that she should "be careful what she wishes for" because "sometimes it is not all that it seems”.

However Burrell feels for Thomas Markle, 74, saying he "doesn't know how to behave, he is lost”.

"I think the best thing he could do is stay quiet and try and reach out to his daughter," he told the magazine. "Somebody has to fix it. Before it gets more broken.

"Thankfully Meghan's mother has survived with dignity and style and that's the way forward."

He also feels the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should "get on with" having a baby because "time is marching on". In fact his prediction is that they will fall pregnant during their first year of marriage.

Markle has been plagued by the commentary of her estranged family members since her marriage to Prince Harry on May 19.

Father Thomas Markle, 74, was meant to walk his daughter down the aisle before a paid paparazzi photo scandal and subsequent health problems forced him to pull out. Since then he has given several interviews in which he has accused his daughter of freezing him out and the royals of cutting him off.

Half siblings Samantha Markle, 53, and Thomas Markle Jnr, 52, have also given several interviews about the Duchess, with Samantha verbally attacking her sister, Prince Harry and the royal family.