Yahoo News Paul Burrell says Queen and Diana have been 'angels on my shoulders' amid cancer diagnosis
The former royal butler was diagnosed with prostate cancer
Paul Burrell has said the Queen and Princess Diana were angels on his shoulders after he was diagnosed with cancer following his stint on I’m A Celebrity.
The former royal butler was on the upcoming All-Stars edition of the reality show – which airs next week – and was diagnosed with prostate cancer after going for a medical check-up for the programme.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, he said it helped save his life.
Read more: I'm a Celebrity: South Africa all-star line-up revealed
"I didn’t know when I was sat there in the clearing," he explained.
"I knew something was wrong but I didn’t know what was wrong. When I got back I went back to the doctor and they found it was cancer.
"So I’m sat in the jungle with cancer. The Queen had died. And I am thinking, 'Oh wow, how do I get through this?'
“I had two angels sat on my shoulder, the princess and the Queen, sat on my shoulders.”
Burrell also told how show bosses asked him if he wanted to go home after the Queen died.
But he explained: "I said, 'Listen, I’m better here, this is my sanctuary right now. To go back home, it would be a circus… so let me stay here with the other celebrities and I will share my grief with them because it was their Queen too'."
Earlier this month Burrell rang the bell at The Christie hospital in Macclesfield to symbolise the end of his radiotherapy treatment.
The 64-year-old looked delighted in the clip, which he shared on Instagram.
Read more: Carol Vorderman says I'm A Celebrity All-Stars was 'brutal'
He told host Lorraine Kelly: “I'm going to live my life and live it large and be grateful for every day.”
The series starts on Monday 24 April at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Watch: Paul Burrell opens up about his cancer journey
