Daniella Westbrook met Princess Diana at Michael Barrymore's home – one thing stood out

Daniella Westbrook opened up about the most famous people she has met over the years and said one member of the Royal Family stood out

Daniella Westbrook revealed the most famous person she ever met was Princess Diana, saying one thing stood out about her personality

The EastEnders icon, who played Sam Mitchell, said Diana would frequent the home of Michael Barrymore. She claimed Prince Harry and Prince William’s mother would go there because it was a place where she could laugh.

Asked on the Criminal Connection podcast about the most well-known faces she encountered, she said: “Lady Diana probably – I met her at Michael Barrymore’s house actually.

“She used to go round there quite a lot because we used to make her laugh. So I met her privately just in Michael’s. I was there quite often because Cheryl (Barrymore’s ex-wife) used to be my agent. Lady Di was lovely.”

Diana and Barrymore were said to be close and the Princess is believed to be one of the first people to know about his true sexuality.

She even once returned to London from holiday to comfort him after he was admitted to rehab in 1996 - one year before her death.

And writing in her autobiography, Catch a Falling Star, Cheryl Barrymore said: “[Diana] seemed to believe they could achieve something truly great and immortal together because they had the key to weeping massive public affection.”

Daniella, 51, meanwhile, claimed her friend Barrymore, 72, became a “scapegoat to the system” after Stuart Lubbock was found dead in his swimming pool in Roydon, Essex, following a party.

Barrymore himself has spoken about how he wished Diana had been alive to help him through his addiction struggles.

He said: “I have a feeling that if she was around it wouldn’t have been so bad… she would have helped me through it.”

Speaking about Barrymore now, Westbrook, who has her own tragic journey with drugs, added: “Michael is doing really well. I think he is something like 15 years clean or something now. He is doing really good.”

Barrymore was once the King of British television and despite his career suffering, nobody was ever charged in connection to the death of Stuart.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said in 2023: “As we have continually stated over the last 20 years - we believe someone, or some people, at that party know what happened.

“It is important to re-state the fact that Essex Police has never given up on this case and that the force are motivated by the desire to deliver justice for Mr Lubbock and his family.”

Speaking to Good Morning Britain in 2020, Barrymore said: “I've got nothing to hide. I've never had anything to hide. I've got every right to go out and work in the business I've worked in without being kicked in the teeth just because I'm back on the telly.”