The court is aware that this is the Golden Jubilee year so it decided it was right to defer the trial

Nicholas Witchell BBC Royal Correspondent

Mr Burrell, 43, of Farndon, Cheshire, has denied that he acted dishonestly at any time.

He was arrested on suspicion of theft in January last year.

The items were allegedly stolen between 1 January 1997 and 30 June 1998 from Kensington Palace.

They include jewellery, CDs, hats, bags, crockery, personal photographs and negatives, cards and letters.

Diana was killed in a car crash in 1997

Letters from Diana to Prince William are alleged to be among those taken.

The date for the trial was put back because of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations in June.

BBC Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell said: "We are all aware and the court is aware that this is the Golden Jubilee year so it was decided that for pressing reasons, it was right to defer the trial until the autumn."

Two other people appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday in connection with alleged theft from Diana.

Harold Brown is accused of theft

Harold Brown, a former butler to the royal household, is to face trial on 2 December accused of stealing valuables from the princess's estate, including a �500,000 diamond-encrusted, Arabian boat.

Mr Brown, 48, worked for Diana and for Princess Margaret, and lives at Kensington Palace.

He will face trial with jeweller Jan Havlik, 50, of Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex, who is charged with dishonestly handling the items.

The men deny the charges.