Diana's 10th death anniversary mired in controversy

Acrid controversy and acid calumny have engulfed Britain's definitive tenth anniversary remembrance of Princess Diana's death, 72 hours before the Queen, Royal Family and government officially mark the occasion with a memorial service to be televised for millions worldwide.

Friday's official remembrance of the woman once described as the world's most beautiful, bewitching and the ultimate royal pin-up has been marred by a public controversy over the intended role of Diana's bete noire, chief rival and replacement as Charles's wife, Camilla.

On Monday, Prince Charles's second wife bowed to public pressure and announced she would not be attending the stately memorial service for Diana. Till Camilla pulled out of the service, public anger had been rising at the prospect of her attendance, fuelled at least partly by the loud protests of Diana's friends.

One of the Princess's best friends, Rosa Monckton, has gone on record to protest against Camilla's presence at a service meant to celebrate Diana's life a decade after her death. Monckton, with whom Diana holidayed just weeks before the August 31, 1997 fatal accident in a Paris underpass, wrote in a leading British newspaper, "I know such occasions should be an occasion for forgiveness, but I can't help feeling Camilla's attendance is deeply inappropriate."

Within hours of Monckton's public put-down, Camilla issued her own, obviously subdued statement, noting that she had wanted to attend the service only to support Prince Charles and his sons. She added in a climb-down interpreted by royal-watchers as a sign Diana still remains 'the people's princess' and 'queen of people's hearts': "However, on reflection I believe my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion which is to focus on the life and service of Diana."

But the Camilla controversy has hardly been as surprising as a parallel outbreak of hostility towards Diana and the so-called myth surrounding her life. To the fury of hard-core Diana fans, London-based Australian feminist and academic Germaine Greer has been leading the charge against the glorification of Diana. On Sunday, the acid-tongued Greer described Diana as "the slowest of the four Spencer children", a child given to "preposterous fibs", "sly malevolence", "devious" and intent on building a false image of herself for an adoring world. To the dismay of Diana-lovers, Greer backed up most of her accusations with facts culled from the Princess's life, illustrating the cunning stupidity she claimed to be Diana's defining characteristic.

Commentators say the damning re-assessment of a woman adored by millions around the world illustrates the changing public mood towards Diana. When she died 10 years ago, Greer would have been publicly lynched for daring to criticise the Princess, they say. But now, Diana can be freely and openly criticised.

The turning tide in the fortunes of Diana and the royal family prompted the royalist Daily Telegraph newspaper to editorialise, "her memory has lost none of its power to inspire - and divide (but in the end, we must remember) the Princess died because a drunk driver lost control of a speeding car: a tragedy, yes, but not one that must be avenged by tormenting those who survived."

What the hell is wrong with Camilla?

PRINCESS DIANA BIOGRAPHY

Name: DIANA SPENCER

Nickname: LADY DI

Born: JULY 1ST, 1961

Birthplace Of: SANDRINGHAM (NORFOLK - ENGLAND)

Parents: JOHN EDWARD SPENCER (1924-1992)
LADY FRANCESSPENCER (1936), DIVORCEDSINCE 1969

Siblings: SARAH, JANE & CHARLES

Length: 1.77M

Weight: UNKNOWN

Colour of Eye: BLUE

Colour of Hair: BLOND

RResidence: KENSINGTON PALACE IN LONDON

Marriage: ON JULY 29TH,DIANA MARRIED PRINCE CHARLES. SHE WAS 20YRS
WHILE PRINCE CHARLES IS 33YRS

Children: PRINCE WILLIAMS (WILLIE) 21ST JUNE 1982
PRINCE HENRY (HARRY) 15TH SEPT 1984


Dissolution of Marriage: 28TH AUGUST 1996

Died: 31ST AUGUST 1997

Place of Death: PARIS