“He suffered enough during his last visit to the inquest and says Mohamed Al Fayed’s lawyer Michael Mansfield will tear him to shreds.”

Burrell could be arrested for perjury when he returns to Britain if he ignores the coroner’s request.

It it understood the coroner wants to hear his new evidence before deciding whether to ask Scotland Yard to launch an investigation.

It is likely the coroner will agree to a video link interview, which would be arranged by officials with the British consul in Orlando. 

Burrell has tried to keep a low profile since the tape exposing his lies was made public. He has also faced the shame of being acc-used of cruising US cities for gay sex.

Burrell begged his wife Maria to return to their home in Clermont, Florida, to put on a united front after a newspaper exposed his sordid secret life.

But Maria, who has been in Britain since January, refused to rush to his side.

She has remained at their home in Farndon, Cheshire, and continues to work in the florist’s shop they own in the town.

“Paul was desperate for Maria to be with him but she just said no,” said a friend. 

“She has her own life and is not about to drop everything to be at Paul’s side.

“One of the reasons she moved back to Farndon was because she was bored of being on her own while he travelled the US selling his products.”

Burrell was in Cincinnati last week promoting his new line of furniture.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Courts of Justice said it was still not confirmed when Burrell might give evidence.