A royal reception for Diana's former butler Paul Burrell

Former royal butler Paul Burrell has visited Shropshire on a fund-raising mission.

Proceeds from the Relate Shropshire and Herefordshire Ladies Day attended by the former butler to the Prince and Princess of Wales, went to the charity's Relateen service for young people – now the largest counselling project within Relate's wide range of relationship services.

He was first in royal service to the Queen for 11 years, starting as a footman and then as personal attendant.

Relate's special Diamond Jubilee day drew a sell-out audience to hear him speak about his life of service.

They heard that he had rooms in all the royal palaces and on the former Royal Yacht Britannia as he recalled: "I sailed every sea on the planet with the Queen and met so many visitors at Buckingham Palace which was rather like a five-star hotel with a very famous landlady, and it was my home. The Queen of England even introduced me to Pope John Paul II."

Of his years with Diana Princess of Wales and the subsequent chaos which entered his life, he said: "Diana's colours are nailed to my mast and I occupied a world which disappeared in 1997. For the time being, it's not a place to re-visit."

Relate's Chief Executive officer, Lin Foley, told nearly 200 supporters that the Relateen service was now established with projects across the county and had proved invaluable when contacts were made within schools.

"But we know that there are many schools we haven't touched, they don't have money available and we need to be able to fund the service.

"We know there is an increasing need to be there for young people who are going through family breakdown and personal problems."

The Apogee Corporation has announced a new long term initiative to raise money for Relate.