Former Royal butler Paul Burrell has insisted he will never betray the late Diana, Princess of Wales, saying: "I will always be her rock".

His declaration of loyalty to his ex-employer came in his first detailed television interview since his acquittal on theft charges.

All I said was that I was keeping certain items safe

Paul Burrell

In it Mr Burrell also disclosed that when he told the Queen he was keeping some of Diana's possessions shortly after her death, she did not ask him for any details of exactly what he had.

It was the Queen's subsequent recollection of the conversation - said by Mr Burrell to have lasted three hours - that triggered the end of his Old Bailey trial.

In the ITV programme broadcast on Sunday night, Mr Burrell told interviewer Sir Trevor McDonald he told the monarch he was "keeping certain items safe".

'Presumptive and arrogant'

Asked whether the Queen would have known the full extent of the items, Mr Burrell replied: "She didn't ask me and I didn't tell her.

"That may sound rather presumptive and arrogant but it wasn't meant that way.

"All I said was that I was keeping certain items safe."

The man who was once a footman to the Queen spoke in his own words about his life, being Diana's "rock" and considering suicide at the time of his arrest.

Video diary

In reference to an alleged warning from the Queen, he recalled: "She said 'Paul do be careful. There are powers at work in this country of which we have no knowledge' and she didn't have to explain that any further."

The programme included extracts from a video diary made by Mr Burrell before and during his trial.

In it he reveals how he considered suicide after his arrest but stopped himself for the sake of his family.

I am Diana's rock and I will always be her rock and I will show them

Paul Burrell

Mr Burrell talks of his amazement at how his duties to the Royals could land him in court.

He said: "In my wildest dreams I just can't imagine that by protecting someone, by taking care of them by devoting your life to someone you can end up in prison."

Of Diana's items that he kept, and still has, Mr Burrell explained how he believed that "everything that was contained within Kensington Palace belonged to William and Harry".

"It was never my property."

He said he never wanted to betray the princess and said he wanted to hold his head up high.

"I am going to strive and say I am here, I am Diana's rock and I will always be her rock and I will show them."