Princes pay tribute to Diana
Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31st 1997
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Friday, 31, Aug 2007 08:14
Princes William and Harry have paid tribute to their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, today to mark the tenth anniversary of her death.
Members of the royal family and invited guests attended a ceremony at Guards Chapel, London, where Prince Harry described her death as "indescribably shocking and sad".
Prince Charles, the Queen, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and other members of the Royal family attended the moving ceremony.
Diana's brother Earl Spencer, who paid tribute to his sister at her funeral ten years ago, organised the services with William and Harry.
In a tribute on behalf of himself and his brother, Prince Harry said: "She will always be remembered for her amazing charity work but behind the media glare to us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world. We miss her.
"She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated. She made us and so many other people happy."
Prime minister Gordon Brown, former premier Tony Blair as well as close friends of the princess including Sir Elton John, Sir Cliff Richard, Mario Testino and Lord Attenborough were present at the remembrance services.
All of the bridesmaids and page boys from Diana's wedding in 1981 and representatives from over a hundred charities the princess supported were also invited to the service.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams spoke at the ceremony and gave thanks for "the memories of her that we treasure still".
Among those expected to miss out on the services are Camilla Parker Bowles, who declined to come as she feared that her appearance may distract from the "purpose of the occasion".
Diana's former butler and confidante Paul Burrell, who has written two books about the princess, was another notable absentee.
Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed, who has accused the royal family of being involved in the car crash which killed three people, including Mr Fayed's son, Dodi, was not invited to the official services.
He laid a wreath at a shrine in the Knightsbridge store and led a two-minute silence in memory of his son who was involved with the princess at the time.
A service to remember Diana will also be held in Manchester later in the afternoon.
Princess Diana, who was dubbed the 'People's Princess' and the 'Queen of Hearts', died in a car crash in the Pont De l'Alma tunnel in Paris on August 31st, 1997.
She died at the age of 36 and is buried on an island at her family estate.