He denied Mr Burrell had stolen hundreds of items from the princess and said he had already received support from public figures.

Mr Shaw said: "Paul Burrell arrived at West End Central police station on the 16th of August, yesterday (Thursday), carrying a 39-page statement accounting for every item taken from his house.

"The officers read the statement, interviewed him briefly, without making detailed or specific reference to anything on the schedule.

"They then charged him and immediately distributed to every paper copies of the schedule.

"The defence team have been told that a decision to charge Mr Burrell was apparently made on or before the 15 August, and therefore, before Mr Burrell provided any explanation for the items, the police had decided to start another trophy trial.

"We were shown a statement prior to the interview from a witness who said, and I don't propose to identify this witness at this stage, the remaining clothing I cannot positively identify, however, they are all of a type and style Princess Diana, and I change those words, would have worn.

"Mr Burrell was charged with the theft of many items in charge two upon the basis that they looked like items that the Princess would have worn, without identification of the fact that she actually did wear or ever own any of them.

'All night prayer vigil'

"Princess Diana trusted Paul Burrell, she called him her rock.

"The night before her funeral, he maintained an all night prayer vigil by her body in Kensington Palace.

"It is now suggested that the same man who declined vast sums to tell royal secrets decided to steal items including dresses and some clearly identified royal property and put them in unopened boxes in his loft.

"Many of the items seized were purchased by his wife. "When his house was searched, a large number of Princess Diana's shoes were present. He's not charged with stealing those, they were on the original schedule.

"But there appears to be no obvious basis for distinction between shoes, dresses, hats and other property.

"As to the photographs and letters, the Princess died prematurely, she didn't expect to die. She placed items with the man she trusted, instead of professional advisers, and instead of with her family.

"They were not on display in Mr Burrell's house, nor even looked at, but were kept safe, that is what she wanted.

'Huge support'

"The death of the princess left the Burrell family without a home or a job.

"I have read it today in one of the statements that the prosecution have kindly given, and it confirms the fact that Paul Burrell was hugely affected by all of this, and may have mummified some of her possessions instead of dealing with them.

"But he did not steal them. And those that know him, believe him.

"He has already received a huge amount of support from prominent figures who have indicated that they wish to attend court to give evidence in his support.

"He will fight this case. We will require the true witnesses to give direct evidence, and will not accept guesswork or rumour as at present.

"We will show that the trust placed in Paul Burrell was appropriately placed, and shall demonstrate as fully as we need the closeness of his professional relationship to the princess.