ANYONE who is not aware of Paul Burrell's book A Royal Duty (£17.99 Penguin hardback) about Princess Diana must either have been marooned on the Soyuz space station or in a cave in the Andes.

The book has been the subject of so much hype with its "should he or shouldn't he have told" debate and unfolding scandals in the national press that it is hard to judge its real value.

As a diary of how a rather unassuming young man rose to the ranks of alleged personal confidante to one of the most popular royals ever, it works well. As a true account of an important period in history, it is simply far too one-sided.

Burrell, born in Chesterfield, was the product of a solid working class home. The most interesting part of his life, of course, starts when he went into service at Buckingham Palace. But, while the hierarchy "below stairs" is fascinating, and the unfolding years of royal family life often riveting, the deferential tone of the whole book is a bit hard to take.

Princess Diana's "rock" obviously eventually held a unique place in the royal household. His observations of the highs and lows of her marriage and motherhood, the divorce and her romantic attachments, keep the reader turning pages.

At the end of it all, though, there is a vague feeling of disquiet. Yes, Paul Burrell has finally had his say, and, yes, we have probably learned much more about the daily lives of the Royal Family and the Princess.

But the impression that we have really been fed vested information is very hard to shake off.

A Royal Duty by Paul Burrell, published by (£17.99 Penguin hardback)