EXCLUSIVE: 'It was a mutual decision': Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell and wife Maria to divorce after 32 years

Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell is divorcing his wife of 32 years.

In an official statement given to MailOnline from Burrell's spokesperson - following the initial reports earlier this week - the 57-year-old florist's impending marital split from wife Maria has been confirmed.

'Our clients Paul and Maria Burrell would like to end any speculation over the past few days by confirming that they are currently going through a divorce,' the statement read.

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Split: Princess Diana's former butler Paul Burrell is divorcing his wife of 32 years Maria, it has been confirmed in an exclusive statement to MailOnline

'The decision to file for divorce was a mutual one, both Paul and Maria remain the best of friends and have two wonderful sons together who remain their priority.

'Paul and Maria will not be giving any further comments and would kindly request that their privacy is respected during this time.'

It was recently reported that Burrell - who is known for his reality TV stints and his job as Princess Diana's butler - was planning more TV appearances to pay for the case.

However, he has since denied such claims. 

The florist has reportedly been living apart from Maria, 62, for years, and the couple have two grown-up sons Alexander and Nicholas together.

Claim to fame: Burrell, who served Princess Diana (pictured together in 1994) for ten years, claimed the Princess of Wales called him her 'rock' and the 'only man I ever trusted'

TV insiders claim Princess Diana's 'rock', a runner-up in series four of the ITV reality show I'm A Celebrity, is set to take part in Strictly Come Dancing and an episode of ITV's Through The Keyhole.

Friends close to the disgraced butler claim he will also make an appearance in an ITV daytime show with Brian McFadden called Who's Doing The Dishes?  

A source previously told the Sunday Express: 'One of the reasons he wishes to star in reality shows could be because he needs money for an impending divorce.

'He is splitting from his long-suffering wife and may need to pay her off.'

It is claimed Burrell, who met Maria at Buckingham Palace when she was working for the Duke of Edinburgh, has been running a flower shop in Farndon, Cheshire, while Maria resides in Florida. 

Burrell initially did not deny the divorce rumours but claimed he had not been asked to appear on any reality shows.

'I've not been asked to compete on Strictly,' he said, and responded 'Am I?' when asked if he was starring on any other shows.

It's over: The 57-year-old florist has reportedly been living apart from Maria, 62, for years and the couple have two grow-up sons Alexander and Nicholas

Burrell married Maria in 1983. A established tradition suggested one of them should give up their job with the Royal Family, but the Queen made an exception for them, allowing both to remain in Royal service. 

He joined Prince Charles and Diana at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire in 1987 and remained there until her death in 1997.

In 2003 Burrell wrote a 2003 tell-all memoir A Royal Duty that went into detail about his time serving Prince and Princess of Wales, and featured letters to him from Diana.

In the international bestseller, which Princes William and Harry branded a 'betrayal', he claimed Diana described him as her 'rock' and 'the only man I can trust'.

With the proceeds of the book, he bought a property in Clermont, near Orlando, Florida, in 2004. 

TV dreams? TV insiders claim Burrell is lined up to take part in Strictly Come Dancing and an episode of ITV's Through The Keyhole (pictured appearing on Stars In Their Eyes in 2006 as Richard Gere)

New life: The florist has made a number of TV appearances since Diana's death, including on Ant And Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (left) and pictured as a runner-up on ITV's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2004 (right)

The relocation came two years after he was accused of stealing 352 items from Princess Diana's estate after she died - charges that were later dropped. 

In 2006 he also released a follow-up book called The Way We Were. In his work, he claimed Diana's mother Frances Shand Kydd didn't like him and believed he was 'just another hanger-on grasping at Diana's celebrity'.

Maria moved to Florida in 2010 after Burrell admitted he had not told 'the whole truth' at the inquest into Diana's death in 1997, which was held in 2008. 

Household name: On I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! he stayed in the Australian jungle for three weeks - coming second to comedian Joe Pasquale

Burrell has made several appearances on TV following the Princess of Wales' death. 

In 2004 Burrell was runner-up in series four of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in which he stayed in the Australian jungle for three weeks - coming second to comedian Joe Pasquale. 

He was a judge and trainer on Australian Princess in 2005, and in March 2006 appeared on Countdown in Dictionary Corner. 

In early 2006, he appeared as Richard Gere on ITV's Stars In Their Eyes, singing Razzle Dazzle from the film Chicago. 

In September 2015, Paul appeared in Celebrity Big Brother as part of a shopping task.