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It was an event I never expected to attend, but there I was on September 6, 1997, walking in bright sunshine to Westminster Abbey.

As hundreds of thousands of people massed in the area surrounding the historic church, I was on my way inside for the funeral of Princess Diana.

Just a week earlier, she had been tragically killed in a car crash in Paris at the age of just 36.

The death of the ‘People’s Princess’ – which I had covered as a royal correspondent – prompted an outpouring of grief among millions.

Literally hundreds of thousands of bouquets of flower had been laid outside her home at Kensington Palace, as well as Buckingham Palace and Balmoral in Scotland.

And the tears from around the world could have filled an ocean.

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Prince Charles, Harry and William, Earl Spencer and Prince Philip watch as the Guardsmen of the Prince of Wales Company of the Welsh Guards carry the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales into Westminster Abbey, September 6, 1997

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Prince William wiping his eye after viewing the floral tributes to his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, outside the gates of Balmoral

Inside the Abbey were 2,000 invited mourners. Outside, the official estimate was three million lining the route.

And around the world 2.5billion people watched the ceremony – which lasted for one hour and ten minutes – on television.

It was broadcast in 44 languages, and it was one of the biggest televised events in history.

The world literally stopped to pay its respects.

Diana was given a ceremonial funeral even though she was no longer a member of the Royal Family.

Soldiers from the Queen’s Life Guard marched each side of the gun carriage from the King’s Troop.

Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer walked behind Diana’s coffin in the funeral procession, along with Prince William and Prince Harry.

At the time, William and Harry were just 15 and 12 years old, respectively.

The decision to have her sons walk behind the coffin was and still is a topic of contention.

William confirmed in the 2017: ‘It wasn’t an easy decision, and it was a collective family decision to do that. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

‘But we were overwhelmed by how many people turned out, it was just incredible. There was that balance between duty and family and that’s what we had to do.’

Harry recalled: ‘I think it was a group decision. But before I knew it, I found myself with a suit on with a black tie and a white shirt, I think, and I was part of it.

‘Genuinely, I don’t have an opinion on whether that was right or wrong. I am glad I was part of it. Looking back on it now, I am very glad I was part of it.’

Prince Philip had allegedly told prime minister Tony Blair’s officials to ‘f*** off’ when the suggestion was initially made.

Among the non-royal attendees were Hillary Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Mariah Carey, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, George Michael and Luciano Pavarotti.

Elton John sang a rendition of ‘Candle in the Wind’ during the service, with new lyrics written as a tribute to Diana.

The single became the best-selling since the UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s, with total sales exceeding 33million units.

In the Abbey, I sat just behind Mohamed Al-Fayed, who had lost his son Dodi – Diana’s lover – in the same car crash.

Opposite us were the Royal Family, led by the Queen.

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Mourners look at some of the floral tributes to Diana at Kensington Palace shortly after her death was announced

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Flowers and wreaths that no one could have imagined kept on being laid until there was a sea of them around Kensington Palace

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Princess Diana’s body was taken from St James’s Palace to Kensington Palace the night before the funeral

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Earl Spencer checking on his nephew, Prince Harry before the funeral procession

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Prince Philip stood by Prince William’s side and Harry had his father and Earl spencer either side of him as the brothers marched slowly behind their mother’s coffin

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The sight of Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles walking behind Diana’s coffin seven days after her death is one that no one who witnessed it will ever forget

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It was too much for this police officer as the funeral cortege passed her

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The Queen arrived separately and was greeted by a clergyman at the doors of Westminster Abbey

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The coffin followed by the boys and  their grandfather, uncle and father could barely be seen as hundreds of flowers had been put around the abbey

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The boys walked into the Abbey with their heads down, as Prince Charles looked heartbroken behind them

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On Diana’s coffin lay a small wreath with the word ‘Mummy’

One of the most poignant moments came when Earl Spencer delivered his heartfelt eulogy to his sister, which was beamed to the waiting crowds outside.

As he started, a shaft of light came through a window in the ceiling and lit up her coffin.

The Earl’s speech famously pulled no punches, strongly criticising the press and indirectly criticising the Royal Family.

As he finished you could hear a pin drop, then within seconds a thunderous applause which started outside the Abbey got louder and louder and protocol was ignored as the congregation joined in.

Then Diana’s coffin was driven to her family home, Althorp in Northamptonshire, in a Daimler hearse.

My good friend Paul Chopping, a police officer of many years, was given the honour of leading his motor bike unit – the Special Escort Group – on the route as he was about to retire.

Mourners cast flowers at the funeral procession for the entire 76-mile length of its journey and vehicles even stopped on the opposite carriageway of the M1 motorway as the cars passed.

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When Earl Spencer’s finished his eulogy, you could hear a pin drop, then within seconds a thunderous applause which started outside the Abbey got louder and louder and protocol was ignored as the congregation joined in

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A tearful Mohammed Al Fayed was seated just in front of Charles Rae, who himself had a cry after the service

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Elton John sang a rendition of ‘Candle in the Wind’ during the service, with new lyrics written as a tribute to Diana. The single became the best-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s

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Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Steven Spielberg were just a few of the famous faces who attended the funeral that day

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Paul Chopping, a police officer of many years, was given the honour of leading his motor bike unit, the Special Escort Group, on the route as he was about to retire

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Mourners cast flowers at the funeral procession for the entire 76-mile length of its journey

In a private ceremony, Diana was buried on an island in the middle of a lake called the Oval, which is part of the Pleasure Garden at Althorp.

The coffin bore a weight of a quarter of a tonne (250 kg) because it was lined with lead, as is tradition with British royalty.

Diana was dressed in a black Catherine Walker dress and black tights and was holding a rosary in her hands.

The rosary had been a gift from Mother Theresa of Calcutta, a confidante of Diana, who had died the day before her funeral.

As I walked the streets back to the office, the enormity of what had happened finally hit me.

Diana, who had been a big part of my life for around 15 years, had gone.

I found a quietish alley, and the tears started to well in my eyes. I know big, tough, Scottish blokes aren’t supposed to show their feelings, but hey, who would have guessed, eh!

I have never claimed to be one of Diana’s closest confidantes.

I like to think that I did my job professionally. Yes, I liked her very much.

She was a fantastic ambassador for Britain and a fantastic woman and mother. And the causes she devoted herself to never had a better ambassador.

Sure, she had her faults, but then, who doesn’t? It’s just her faults were laid bare in public because she was a high-profile celebrity.

He has brushed shoulders with numbers of royalty over the years.

And Gyles Brandreth, 76 – who shared a close relationship with the late Prince Philip – has recalled the tense conversation he had with Philip about Helen Mirren‘s drama, The Queen. 

This Morning star Gyles revealed the late Duke of Edinburgh told him he refused to watch the 2006 series due to the ‘inaccurate portrayal’ of his wife.

Philip avoided the documentary because he heard it showed Mirren, who played Queen Elizabeth II, crying – which Philip insisted was false as ‘the Queen never cried’.

Royal biographer Gyles, who knew both royals, also shared why Elizabeth stopped crying over the years.

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Gyles Brandreth, 76 – who shared a close relationship with the late Prince Philip – has recalled the tense conversation he had with Philip about Helen Mirren’s drama, The Queen (pictured shaking hands in 2017)

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Helen Mirren (pictured in the series) won widespread critical and popular acclaim for her portrayal of the monarch in the movie, which also starred Michael Sheen as Tony Blair

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Philip avoided the documentary because he heard it showed Mirren, who played Queen Elizabeth II, crying – which Philip insisted was false as ‘the Queen never cried’ (pictured in 2007)

He was also told by people who were with Elizabeth when she came back from Kenya after her father George VI died, how “calm and contained she was and how she didn’t shed tears”.

Gyles also shared how Philip underlined the strong side of his wife’s character when he admitted that Elizabeth never wept.

He said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh, I remember saying to me, when I asked him if he’d seen the film of the Queen with Helen Mirren, he [Philip] said “Why would I want to see that?”

‘And he [Philip] got irritated.

‘He [Philip] said “Apparently they have the Queen crying in the film. The Queen doesn’t cry”.

‘He [Philip] said “An actress would cry, would assume the Queen would cry, but she didn’t cry”.’

Gyles added on his Rosebud podcast: ‘He wasn’t saying it was a virtue not to cry.’

The 2006 film The Queen was a historical drama directed by Stephen Frears and written by Peter Morgan.

Peter also created the controversial The Crown series ten years later.

The film depicted the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997.

Helen Mirren won widespread critical and popular acclaim for her portrayal of the monarch in the movie, which also starred Michael Sheen as Tony Blair.

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Gyles has brushed shoulders with numbers of royalty over the years (pictured with Queen Camilla in 2022)

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Gyles is pictured with King Charles in 2022

The Prince and Princess of Wales ramping up their PR operations at Kensington Palace – in a sign that Kate may be getting ready to take on more royal duties soon.

The royal couple, both 42, are currently hiring a new senior communications officer, who will help them work in the UK, along with overseas tours.

Although the job is based at the Palace in central London, Kate and William are ‘open to discussing flexible working at interview stage’, according to the job advertisement, which has received more than 100 applicants, on LinkedIn.

It’s unclear from the job advertisement whether the hire will be filling a new role created on the communications team; or replacing a previous senior communications officer who has resigned.

The successful candidate will also be required to work from and travel to other royal residences, such as Buckingham Palace and Balmoral Castle.

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William and Kate are currently hiring a new senior communications officer, who will help them with overseas tours

The position is full-time, Monday to Friday, but the applicant will be required to participate in the out-of-hours rota, handling enquiries from the media

Prince William shares clip of his visit to homelessness exhibition

However, the candidate will also be expected to have good knowledge of creating social media content and be able to write press releases for the media.

The job description states that the Palace is looking for someone who can plan and deliver ‘creative’ and ‘integrated’ communications activity that ‘connects the work of The Prince and Princess to a wide external audience’.

It read: ‘This role will be part of a multi-disciplinary team working together to communicate the work of The Prince and Princess.

‘The successful candidate will lead on communications plans for Their Royal Highnesses’ engagements and support on the delivery of communications strategies to promote their key projects.

‘The role will also involve responding to media enquiries on matters related to The Prince and Princess and their family.’

Some of the essential criteria includes ‘handling sensitive information with tact and discretion at all times’ and being able to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

The position is full-time, Monday to Friday, but the applicant will be required to participate in the out-of-hours rota, handling enquiries from the media.

The job was posted on LinkedIn two days ago and already has more than 100 applicants. However, they are no longer accepting CVs.

It comes after a difficult year for the Wales family as mother-of-three Kate has been undergoing cancer treatment after cancer cells were detected in an abdominal operation she underwent in January. Her diagnosis came just as King Charles announced he was also undergoing cancer treatment.

Since she announced her diagnosis to the world in an emotional video in March, the Princess has been undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy and has stepped back from royal duties.

However, the job advertisement for a new communications officer may be a sign that the royal couple is hoping to return to normal soon – in what will be welcome news for fans and the family.

Prince William and Kate Middleton inherited the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales following the late Queen’s death in September 2022 – having previously been the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

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The couple also used to live in a separate, private wing of Kensington Palace until they moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, in the autumn of 2022

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The elected person will also be required to work from and travel to other royal residences, such as Buckingham Palace and Balmoral Castle

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The couple now live in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, around 25 miles out of London

Hair to the throne! Wills rocks beard outside Saatchi Gallery

While Buckingham Palace deals with communications for King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Waleses have their own separate office based in Kensington Palace.

The couple also used to live in a separate, private wing of Kensington Palace until they moved to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, in the autumn of 2022.

It is around 25 miles out of London and was originally made for Queen Adelaide.

Royal fans can even go on tours around parts of Kensington Palace and view the statue of Princess Diana in the gardens that was unveiled by Prince Harry and Prince William in 2021.

In July, the couple were hiring for a new private secretary to organise the royals’ UK engagements.

However they noted that the successful candidate would need to possess a rare skill.

The job specification highlighted that the royal couple were looking for an assistant private secretary who can ideally speak fluent Welsh.

It concluded: ‘Conversational Welsh is essential, and fluent Welsh, both written and spoken, is desirable.’

The job description at the time stressed that there will be a ‘particular focus on Wales’ to ‘maximise’ the couple’s impact.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to the late Queen’s “enduring legacy of service and devotion to our country” ahead of the second anniversary of her death, saying she will “never be forgotten”.

The nation’s longest-reigning monarch died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8 2022 at the age of 96.

Elizabeth II, whose reign spanned 70 years, dedicated her life to her royal duty.

The anniversary of her death, and of the King’s accession to the throne, falls on Sunday.

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Queen Elizabeth II, just three days before her death, waits in the Drawing Room to hold an audience with outgoing prime minister Liz Truss (Jane Barlow/PA)

Sir Keir said a new national memorial in her honour, which will stand in St James’s Park in the heart of London, will provide “everyone with a place to honour the late Queen and connect with the shared history we cherish”.

The site, approved by Charles and the Prime Minister, was chosen because of its closeness to the ceremonial route of The Mall, and Buckingham Palace, and its historical and constitutional significance, but also because of a poignant personal connection to the late Queen – the nearby statues of her beloved parents.

The bronze tributes to King George VI, who died at the age of 56 in 1952, and the Queen Mother, who died aged 101 in the Golden Jubilee year of 2002, stand just a short distance along The Mall.

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Sir Keir said: “Queen Elizabeth II’s enduring legacy of service and devotion to our country will never be forgotten.

“The national memorial will be located in St James’s Park, right in the heart of the capital, providing everyone with a place to honour the late Queen and connect with the shared history we cherish.”

The Queen travelled up and down The Mall in horse-drawn carriages and state cars watched by huge crowds countless times over the decades, making the journey for jubilees, state visits, on her coronation day, and for birthday celebrations, royal weddings and funerals.

Her former private secretary Lord Janvrin, who is chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, said: “The Mall and St James’s Park at the ceremonial heart of our capital provides a location closely identified with so many events of the late Queen’s life.

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The gold state coach carrying Queen Elizabeth II during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in The Mall (Barry Batchelor/PA)

“It is a fitting site for the national memorial in her honour to remember and celebrate her extraordinary contribution to our lives throughout her long reign.”

Architects, artists and designers will be invited to submit proposals later this year to fit the brief of providing a memorial, which will serve as a space for contemplation and community and be of appropriate scale and ambition to match the late Queen’s impact.

The memorial, depending on its form, will be located just a few hundred metres from the Palace, in the area of St James’s Park adjacent to The Mall at Marlborough Gate, and on the east of the pathway which leads down to the lake near the park’s Blue Bridge.

The path also acts as a small section of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Walk – a seven-mile route through the capital in memory of the princess.

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The view of Buckingham Palace from across the lake in St James´s Park (Johnny Green/PA)

The aftermath of Diana’s death in a car crash in 1997 proved one of the most challenging times for the modern monarchy.

The Queen was perceived as being out of step with the feelings of mourners, with the public left wondering why the monarch, who was at Balmoral with Princes William and Harry, took so long to speak publicly about the tragedy.

But on the eve of the funeral, the Queen addressed the nation, saying everyone had been trying to cope in different ways and “What I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.”

Baroness Amos, Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee member and former Lord President of the Council, reflected on the Queen’s global leadership over the decades, saying she “knew how to connect to people and bring communities together”.

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The statues of the Queen´s parents King George VI and the Queen Mother on The Mall (Jamie Wiseman/PA)

“I admired her resilience and steadfastness, her belief in the people of Britain and the Commonwealth, her quiet diplomacy, her subtle use of power and common sense approach,” she added.

The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee is the independent body tasked with considering and recommending proposals to the King and the Prime Minister.

Public funds will be used to pay for the memorial, but the UK Government will also make funding available for memorial projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The announcement of the final design will coincide with what would have been the Queen’s 100th birthday year in 2026.

The new wife of top designer Wayne Cooper has been banned by a court from stalking her own husband – despite her claims the couple are more in love than ever.

But Elizabeth Adams, 47, admits the shadow of Cooper’s ex-wife still looms over their marriage nine months after they wed, triggering a meltdown that landed her in court.

‘Like Princess Diana said, “There’s three of us in this marriage”, so it’s getting a bit crowded,’ Ms Adams told Daily Mail Australia at the couple’s home in Myocum, near Byron Bay in northern NSW.

‘But, despite the uncertainties, my commitment to Wayne is unwavering. Our love for one another is infectious and we’re more committed than ever.’

The former UBS banker and mum-of-two faced Byron Bay Local Court last month over an Apprehended Violence Order taken out by NSW Police for her husband’s protection.

Last month Magistrate Kathy Crittenden imposed the AVO for two years, preventing Ms Adams from assaulting or threatening her husband as well as stalking, harassing or intimidating him.

The order also includes intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging any property owned by Mr Cooper as well as harming an animal that belongs to or is in his possession.

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Elizabeth Adams, the newlywed wife of top designer Wayne Cooper has been banned by a court from stalking her own husband, despite her claims the couple are more in love than ever

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Fashion designer Wayne Cooper (left) proposed to  Elizabeth Adams (right) after eight months of dating

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Wayne Cooper told Daily Mail Australia that his wife’s AVO was ‘a storm in a teacup’

But this week both Ms Adams and Cooper insisted their fledgling marriage was still strong, and dismissed the impact of the court’s strict ruling on their relationship.

Cooper, 61, insisted that despite the court proceedings, the pair remain happy together.

‘Everything is fine,’ he told Daily Mail Australia. ‘It’s a storm in a teacup. We’re together and we’re happy and that’s it.’

Ms Adams has previously admitted Cooper’s continuing links to first wife and mother of his two children, Sarah Marsh, had created ‘immense pressure’ for the couple.

She admitted this week that it had driven her to the point of mental collapse.

‘My recent breakdown underscored the difficulties I thought I could overcome for Wayne to be creative again,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘It reiterates to me, like cigarettes’ warning sign, “Family court will kill your finances”. Leave your past grievances out of court. No one wins.

‘Amidst the chaos, the support I received from my daughters was a source of solace.

‘This support was especially meaningful, and reminiscent of a round table meeting, that served our girls well, allowing us to heal and find harmony today.’

But she added: ‘I would hope we can prioritise Australia’s domestic violence crisis over a minor legal matter and focus on what truly matters in our community.’

Cooper popped the question to Adams when he hid an engagement ring in a bowl of caviar during a romantic dinner at Bondi Icebergs in Sydney’s east.

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Despite the uncertainties, the pair are more in love than ever

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Sarah Marsh (above) seen leaving Waverly Court house in August 2023

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Cooper and Ms Marsh were married for 14 years (pictured, Wayne Cooper with his estranged wife Sarah Marsh in 2011)

They tied the knot in December in front of close friends and family after dating for eight months, following the breakdown of Cooper’s 14-year marriage to Ms Marsh.

His second marriage came after Cooper himself became the subject of an AVO, when police took one out on behalf of Ms Marsh, a former model.

But Cooper was acquitted of two charges of domestic violence-related common assault at Waverley Local Court, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, in August last year

Magistrate Emma Manea said she doubted Ms Marsh’s reliability and her allegations that he assaulted her twice in 2015 and 2016.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Marsh for comment.

Prince Harry has ‘no interest’ in leaving the United States and returning to royal duties in Britain, sources claim.

The Duke of Sussex has reportedly sought advice from trusted former aides on how to mastermind a return to the UK — nearly five years after he and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, stepped down as senior royals and decamped to Montecito.

But sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he is settled in California with Meghan, 43, and their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

They also claim that Harry has an ‘amazing’ new set of friends in the United States and several projects on the horizon.

He is currently preparing for a trip to New York where he will take part in engagements connected to his various charities, including the Halo Trust and the Diana Award.

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Sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he is settled in California with Meghan, 43, and their children Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with their children in December 2021

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The Duke of Sussex has reportedly sought advice from trusted former aides on how to mastermind a return to the UK

The Mail on Sunday revealed last week the Duke had turned away from his ‘Hollywood publicists’ and resorted to texting former confidantes ‘from his old life’ on how to mastermind a return from exile in the US.

It marks the first stage in a potential strategy to ‘rehabilitate’ Harry and repair his relationship with his father King Charles following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

Sources stressed that Harry and Meghan, who have spent the past four years living in self-imposed exile in California with their two children, are not seeking a permanent return.

The newspaper also revealed that the couple have parted company with yet another American PR adviser. Christine Weil Schirmer joined the Sussexes in 2020 as head of communications but left quietly late last year.

She is the tenth staff member to have left the couple in three years and last month took up a job with PR giant Brunswick advising clients on reputation management.

Last month, it emerged that the Sussexes’ chief of staff Josh Kettler had suddenly quit his job after scarcely three months.

‘Harry is turning away from all sorts of Hollywood publicists and is seeking counsel from his old friends and associates,’ said a source.

‘He is clearly reaching out thinking, “I need to do something different because what I’m doing is clearly not working”. In short, he is rethinking the way he operates.’

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Harry and Meghan attend the cycling medal ceremony at the Cycling Track during day six of the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2023

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Harry and Meghan at an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens, Kensington Palace, in November 2017

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Prince Harry attends The Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the ‘Afro Women and Power’ forum in Cali, Colombia, on August 18

Prince Harry’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Ending his rancorous feud with his brother William is not seen as a realistic goal, but last week this newspaper revealed that the King may be open to healing the rift with his youngest son, and had consulted with faith leaders as he explores the nature of forgiveness.

At least one of the advisers approached by Harry is a trusted figure ‘from the old school’ known for loyalty and discretion.

One friend has already devised a strategy for how Harry might begin moving in UK circles again – even carrying out ‘very low-key royal duties’ – although the Duke is said to be open to ideas from many sources.

A source said the friend ‘believes if Harry comes back to the UK with zero fuss, and does zero publicity and attends very mundane events, he could prove himself and win over the British public again.

He would have to accept, though, that he might be reduced to ribbon cutting for a long period. But it would give him purpose to work again.’

But the source said it would only happen ‘if certain members of the family could find it in themselves to allow it’.

Separately, the Duke has sent conciliatory messages to a number of old friends in the UK on WhatsApp. They are ready and willing to help him smooth a path back to Britain, with some referring to their task as Operation Bring Harry In From The Cold.

Friends are hoping the Duke’s former private secretary Edward Lane Fox might spearhead a comeback. One said: ‘If anyone can do it, Edward can. Last time I saw him I wanted to take him by the shoulders and say, “Ed, please bring our boy home”. It’s the right time now.’

Asked about helping Harry, Mr Lane Fox told this newspaper: ‘It’s not something I’ve got a view on I’m afraid.’

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Prince William and Prince Harry walk beside each other after viewing the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pictured in 2018 attending the Your Commonwealth Youth Challenge reception at Marlborough House, London in 2018

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Kate, William, Harry and Meghan are pictured together at Windsor Castle in the days following the Queen’s death at Balmoral Castle

2004: Princes William and Harry with their uncle Robert Fellowes

Although Harry’s relationship with his brother is feared irreparably damaged, the Duke has seemed less embittered of late.

To his family’s relief, he has decided against updating his acrimonious memoirs, Spare, for its paperback edition, due out on October 24, and will not be giving interviews to publicise it.

On Thursday, the Prince flew from his Montecito mansion to join his estranged brother, The Prince of Wales, for a memorial service for their late mother’s brother-in-law, Lord Robert Fellowes.

The service took place at St Mary’s Church close to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, but witnesses told The Mail the brothers ‘kept their distance’ and were not seen to speak to each other.

When Carolyn Pride got married on September 3, 1982, Princess Diana went to great lengths to ensure she was there to support her former flatmate on her big day.

The Princess of Wales left ten-week-old William at Balmoral and flew with Prince Charles to the wedding in London.

Diana’s old school friend Carolyn married brewery heir William Bartholomew at Chelsea Old Church 42 years ago today.

The Princess wore a hot pink sailor-style dress boasting a white collar that she paired with a white hat trimmed with navy and matching kitten heels.

After the ceremony, Diana is said to have waved and warmly exclaimed, ‘have a lovely honeymoon’, as the couple drove away together.

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Princess Diana wearing a hot pink sailor-style dress with a white collar to Carolyn Pride’s wedding in 1982

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The princess standing with Carolyn and her husband William Bartholomew after their wedding ceremony

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Diana greeting a bridesmaid at her friends wedding at Chelsea Old Church 42 years ago today

The bride’s mother, Mrs Sally Pride, said at the time: ‘It was jolly nice of the Princess to come – it put the crowning touch on a lovely day.

‘She chatted to all the bridesmaids and was her usual gorgeous self.’

The Daily Mail reported how Charles ‘gave the bride a warm hug’ after the ceremony, while Diana admired her friend’s wedding gown and ‘giggled’.

The couple did not stay for the reception afterwards – held at the Duke of York’s barracks in Chelsea – but instead travelled back to Scotland to be with Prince William.

Before Diana married into the Royal Family she lived with Carolyn and two other flatmates – Virginia Pitman and Annie Bolton.

Diana and Annie had their own bedrooms while Carolyn and Virginia shared. The flat was bought for the princess by her mother Frances and Diana charged the girls £18 a week rent.

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A Daily Mail newspaper report from the wedding detailing how Diana said to the newly wed couple, ‘Have a lovely honeymoon’

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Before Diana married into the Royal Family she lived with Carolyn and two other flatmates – Virginia Pitman and Annie Bolton

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Diana with her son, Prince William, in New Zealand when he was less than a year old

The trio were some of the princess’s closest friends.

They shared many secrets and stories with one another inside the apartment on the corner of Old Brompton Road and The Little Boltons in south-west London – including the details of Diana’s early relationship with Charles.

One of the flatmates, Virginia Pitman, previously told how Diana burst into the three-bedroom flat and said: ‘Just as I would be saying, “Oh my God, I met this guy last night”, Diana was going, “Oh my God I met this guy at the weekend but I have to call him Your Highness.”

Diana also shared the news of her engagement with her flatmates three weeks before it was officially announced.

Carolyn supported Diana during her own wedding preparations and the trio would visit Diana at Buckingham Palace after she moved there.

Virginia recalled: ‘The sweetest thing I can remember is when she moved into Buckingham Palace.

‘She liked to invite us round there sometimes. We were there when her wedding veil arrived.

‘I think it was Carolyn and me and Diana and we were taking it in turns trying it on and imagining what was coming. It was surreal, wandering around her bedroom in the palace wearing the veil.’

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The newly wed couple Carolyn Pride and William Bartholomew in September 1982

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Diana smiling at her close friend as they walk by following their wedding ceremony

When Carolyn lived with Diana, she was studying singing and piano at the Royal College of Music.

An accomplished sportswoman as well as a musician, it was reported that she had too many rosettes and that they wouldn’t all fit in the flat.

During an auction in 2017, ‘intimate letters’ that Diana sent to Carolyn fetched more than £93,000.

Carolyn is one of Prince Harry’s godmothers and attended his 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle.

Her husband is now a party organiser and the couple have two children together.

Prince Harry visited Althorp House – the ancestral home and final resting place of his late mother Princess Diana – during his trip to Britain last week, it was claimed today.

The Duke of Sussex stayed with his uncle Charles Spencer at the estate after going to the funeral of Diana’s brother-in-law Lord Robert Fellowes, according to People.

Harry made a surprise appearance at the memorial service in Snettisham, Norfolk, and is then reported to have travelled to the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire.

The funeral was also attended by Prince William, but witnesses claimed the estranged brothers kept their distance and sat apart at the back of St Mary’s Church.

One member of the congregation told People: ‘Most people were astounded that Harry came. He was on remarkably good form – and you could tell he was very pleased to see everybody. And he was very pleased that he had come over.’

Last Thursday’s service took place two days before the 27th anniversary of Diana’s death on Saturday. Her final resting place is on an island on the Oval Lake at Althorp.

The Duke has remained close to Diana’s family – and her brother Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, also attended a service in May for the tenth anniversary of Harry’s Invictus Games at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, when no senior royal was in attendance.

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Prince Harry stands next to his uncle Earl Spencer and aunt Lady Jane Fellowes at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 8 for the tenth anniversary service for the Invictus Games

Prince Harry chats with his uncle Earl Spencer at Invictus ceremony

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Prince Harry is reported to have stayed at the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire last week

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Prince Harry’s aunt Lady Jane Fellowes and uncle Earl Spencer arrive at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 8 for the tenth anniversary service for the Invictus Games

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Diana’s resting place is on an island in a lake at her family home at Althorp, Northamptonshire

MailOnline has requested comment from Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer, and representatives of the Sussexes about reports that Harry stayed at Althorp. But the claims are likely to be true given the US publication’s close links to the couple.

Althorp – the 13,000-acre estate where Earl Spencer and Diana grew up with their two sisters – is a hugely poignant location for Harry.

He revealed in his controversial memoir Spare in January last year that Meghan kneeled and put her palms on Diana’s grave at the estate in 2017 and asked his late mother for ‘clarity and guidance’.

On the 20th anniversary of her death, Harry and Meghan had rowed out to Diana’s final resting place on an island. After some time reflecting, he sensed Meghan wanted a moment to herself by the site.

‘When I returned, she was on her knees with her eyes closed and her palms flat against the stone,’ Harry wrote.

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Prince Harry chats with Earl Spencer ahead of the unveiling of a statue of his mother Diana at Kensington Palace in London on July 1, 2021, which would have been her 60th birthday

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Althorp is a 13,000-acre estate where Earl Spencer and Diana grew up with their two sisters

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Charles and Diana with Harry and William, during a holiday on the Isles of Scilly in June 1989

In May, Earl Spencer revealed he was overcome with emotion when a friend gave him a hand-made canoe as a present for his 60th birthday.

The gift was constructed by the friend’s husband who said: ‘I just thought it would be useful when you visit your sister.’

Diana was buried on a small island in the middle of the lake, which can be reached only by boat.

Earl Spencer had originally planned to lay Diana to rest in the family tombs at a local church, but said he was concerned about her safety.

On Saturday, he marked the anniversary of his sister’s death in 1997 by paying tribute on on Instagram, sharing a series of newspaper cuttings from her early life.

Diana died in a car crash in Paris when Harry was just 12 years old.

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Prince Harry chats to Earl Spencer and Lady Sarah McCorquodale after a service to celebrate the life of Diana ten years after her death, at the Guards Chapel in London on August 31, 2007

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A friend gifted Earl Spencer this canoe as a 60th birthday present so he can ‘visit’ Diana. The canoe is pictured on the bank next to the Oval Lake at Althorp, his sister’s final resting place

It comes as separate reports emerged last night that Harry has ‘no interest’ in leaving the US and returning to royal duties in Britain.

The Duke has reportedly sought advice from trusted former aides on how to mastermind a return to the UK – nearly five years after he and Meghan stepped down as senior royals.

But sources close to Harry, who turns 40 this month, told the Daily Telegraph that he is settled in California with Meghan, 43, and their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

They also claim that Harry has an ‘amazing’ new set of friends in the US and several projects on the horizon. He is preparing for a trip to New York where he will take part in charity engagements.

According to The Mail on Sunday, he has turned away from his ‘Hollywood publicists’ and resorted to texting former confidants ‘from his old life’ on how to mastermind a return from exile in the US.

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Then-Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Philip and Earl Spencer on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral in London on September 6, 1997

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Earl Spencer, Princess Diana, Charles, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale at Earl Spencer’s 21st birthday party at Althorp in 1985

They are reportedly willing to help him build bridges with his old life in Britain, with some referring to it as ‘Operation Bring Harry In From The Cold’.

It was said that marked the first stage in a potential strategy to ‘rehabilitate’ Harry and repair his relationship with King Charles.

Harry has also chosen not to update Spare ahead of its release in paperback next month, nor to give interviews to publicise it, which could be seen as an olive branch.

But William is still understood to be deeply hurt by Harry’s sustained attacks on his family.

According to friends, he does not discuss Harry, and is instead focusing on his wife, Kate – who is still undergoing treatment for cancer – their children and his work.

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Lord Fellows at the High Court in February 2008 to give evidence in Princess Diana’s inquest

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Queen Elizabeth II and Lord Fellowes aboard the royal yacht Britannia in Florida in May 1991

The brothers are not believed to have spoken properly for two years.

Harry flew out of Los Angeles on Tuesday and slipped into the UK without fanfare.

The prince, who is suing the UK Home Office for withdrawing his police protection when he quit royal duties and left the UK and says it is unsafe to bring his wife or family here, then travelled to Norfolk to attend the memorial.

Harry, whose PR team had previously briefed friendly media to say he would not be flying to the UK for the funeral, is not believed to have travelled on to meet with his father at Balmoral.

King Charles III has been in residence at his Scottish estate with Queen Camilla.

Harry and Charles last saw each other briefly back in February, when the prince flew to the UK from California for a meeting that lasted barely 30 minutes after Charles’s cancer diagnosis was announced.

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The funeral for Lord Fellowes was at the 14th century St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk

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The interior of St Mary’s Church in Snettisham is pictured last Friday, following the funeral

Harry then returned to London once more, in May, but his father’s diary was full with work and his cancer treatment, and they did not meet.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Harry and Meghan have parted company with another American PR adviser, Christine Weil Schirmer, the tenth staff member to leave in three years. She has joined PR giant Brunswick.

Lord Fellowes, who died on July 29 aged 82, was married to Diana’s sister Lady Jane Fellowes.

He was a long-time Buckingham Palace courtier who worked for Queen Elizabeth II for 22 years until 1999.

This was a period which covered both the breakdown of his sister-in-law’s marriage to then-Prince Charles and her death in 1997.

Victoria and David Beckham spent a romantic weekend in Sardinia ahead of their 25th wedding anniversary this week.

The couple were spotted sunning themselves on board a yacht in early celebrations for their milestone anniversary on July 4.

David, 49, showed off the results of his daily workouts as he stripped down to a pair of green swimming shorts for a dip in the ocean.

Victoria, 50, meanwhile stayed on board, relaxing on deck in a chic sundress and wide-brimmed hat.

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Victoria and David Beckham spent a romantic weekend in Sardinia ahead of their 25th wedding anniversary this week

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David, 49, showed off the results of his daily workouts as he stripped down to a pair of green swimming shorts for a dip in the ocean

David showed off his own sense of style as he caught the rays next to his wife while sporting a straw bucket hat.

The couple were joined by middle son Romeo, 21, who recently split from his long-term girlfriend Mia Regan.

They are gearing up to celebrate their milestone silver wedding anniversary on July 4, 25 years after marrying in a £750,000 event at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland.

Posh and Becks, as they became known, sat on matching thrones and wore purple outfits at their nuptials.

They had eldest son Brooklyn at their side as he was just six months old and the flower girls were dressed as angels and the cake topped with a nearly nude sculpture of the newlyweds.

David and Victoria first met in 1997, when she came to watch him at a Manchester United football match and he said ‘hi from across the room’.

Victoria recalled the meeting in a letter for her 18-year-old self in Vogue, writing: ‘While the other football players stand at the bar drinking with their mates, you will see David standing aside with his family.

‘(He’s not even in the first team at this stage—you are the famous one.) And he has such a cute smile. You, too, are close to your family, and you will think how similar he feels to you.’

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The couple were joined by middle son Romeo, 21, who recently split from his long-term girlfriend Mia Regan

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Victoria, 50, meanwhile stayed on board, relaxing on deck in a chic sundress and wide-brimmed hat

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David showed off his tattooed physique as he enjoyed the Sardinia sunshine

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Posh was helped up by a trio of crew members, looking incredibly chic in her boat look

In her book, Victoria recalled how she took the reigns when it came to David’s January 1998 proposal at a country house.

David proposed with a £40,000 ring but she then presented him with a £50,000 diamond sparkler.

Recalling the moment, she said: ‘We were sitting in our dressing gowns when David pulled out the ring, got down on one knee and said, “Will you marry me, Victoria?”. I said, “Yes”, then produced my own ring and said, “Don’t forget Girl Power, will YOU marry ME?”.’

David meanwhile has revealed that ‘he always knew he was going to be’ with Victoria, even before they first met.

David, 49, told The Sun that he first saw Victoria, 50, in a Spice Girls music video, and told his Manchester United teammate Gary Neville that he was going to ‘be with her.’

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Romeo was spotted taking a jet ski out for a ride, sporting patterned purple swimming trunks

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The stylish pair matched their hats as they checked out the stunning scenery

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David’s vast tattoo collection was on show as he hiked up his swimming shorts to work on his tan

He said: ‘I always said that once I met Victoria, I would always be with her.

The couple now have four children, Brooklyn is now 25, Romeo is 21, Cruz is 19 and Harper is 12.

The Beckhams also cleverly turned their much-adored family into an ever-expanding business and property empire.

According to The Sunday Times Rich List 2024, Posh and Becks boast a combined fortune of £455million.

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Romeo proved that three’s not a crowd as he snapped a selfie with his dad on deck

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The 21-year-old larked around with his dad as they showered off after their swim

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Posh and Becks are gearing up to celebrate their milestone silver wedding anniversary on July 4, 25 years after marrying in a £750,000 event at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland

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David and Victoria first met in 1997, when she came to watch him at a Manchester United football match and he said ‘hi from across the room’

Speaking about their relationship to ELLE Spain in April, Victoria said: ‘My husband is an inspiration to me. Do we look like the couple seen in the Netflix documentary? Yes. We like to have fun, chat, dance, drink.

‘And laugh at each other. That’s what it takes to be happy. I believe a lot in laughter, family and friendship. I realize that we have become a model. People like to see relationships that last.’

The couple no doubt have a lavish celebration planned for their anniversary which comes shortly after Victoria marked her 50th with a huge London party

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Victoria recalled the meeting in a letter for her 18-year-old self in Vogue, writing: ‘While the other football players stand at the bar drinking with their mates, you will see David standing aside with his family

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In her book, Victoria recalled how she took the reigns when it came to David’s January 1998 proposal at a country house

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David proposed with a £40,000 ring but she then presented him with a £50,000 diamond sparkler

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The couple now have four children, Brooklyn is now 25, Romeo is 21, Cruz is 19 and Harper is 12

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Romeo was seen checking his phone as he holidayed with his parents and their pals

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David cooled off in Sardinia heat with his on deck shower before joining his wife

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Thrill seeker Romeo enjoyed some time on the waves

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Victoria needed a helping hand making her way around the boar in her chic mini dress

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David made the most of some rare time off, putting his feet up as he relaxed on a lounger

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The couple no doubt have a lavish celebration planned for their big day, which comes shortly after Victoria marked her 50th with a huge London party

David Beckham has shared a heart-breaking tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson on Instagram – featuring what the star says he knew would be his final meeting with the ex-England manager.

Becks’ social media post features a silent clip of him and the late Swede, 76, walking, talking and laughing at what appears to be Eriksson’s home in Sunne.

He issued the tribute after the football legend’s family announced his death earlier today following a long battle with pancreatic cancer, during which Eriksson inspired the world with his positivity.

The video did not have a date attached – but comes after Eriksson revealed earlier this year that Beckham had visited him with a personal chef and a crate of expensive wine drawn from significant years of the manager’s career.

Eriksson’s family were around the Swedish icon’s bed when he passed away earlier this morning – and the news has triggered a flood of tributes from across the footballing world and beyond.

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David Beckham and Sven-Goran Eriksson seen together in a post Beckham made on Instagram earlier this evening

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Becks’ touching tribute to his former manager has been liked hundreds of thousands of times

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Eriksson and Beckham in Portugal in 2004 during the European Championships. Eriksson brought England some much-needed panache but never saw them to a title

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Eriksson oversaw a refinement to England’s playing that saw them become a more competitive force on the world stage – including Beckham’s 2001 awe-inspiring free kick against Greece

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Eriksson breathing a sigh of relief after that free kick guaranteed England’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup

Wembley Stadium pays tribute to ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson

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Eriksson applauding ahead of England’s fateful World Cup quarter-final against Portugal in 2006 – the match would ultimately prompt him to resign after England lost 3-1 on penalties

Looking back at Sven-Goran Eriksson’s career as England manager

Beckham’s post has been liked almost 350,000 times since it was posted earlier this afternoon.

In the caption, the former England midfielder said that he knew that the meeting with his former coach would likely be his last.

He wrote: ‘We laughed, we cried & we knew we were saying goodbye.

‘Sven thank you for always being the person you have always been: passionate, caring, calm & a true gentleman.

‘I will be forever grateful for you making me your captain but I will forever hold these last memories of this day with you and your family.

‘Thank you Sven and in your last words to me: “It will be ok”.’

It is not known when the video was filmed – but Eriksson revealed in June that Beckham had visited him after he announced in January that he had been given ‘at best’ a year to live.

During an interview with Radio Sweden’s P4 Varmland channel two months ago, the 76-year-old said Becks had visited him on his farm outside Sunne.

‘He came with six litres of wine from dates that were important to me,’ Eriksson had revealed.

‘He had wine from 1948 – the year I was born, very nice of him. He is genuine, he could have been a big diva, but he is quite the opposite.’

Beckham also brought wine from 1982, when Eriksson won the UEFA Cup with IFK Goteborg, and 2000, the year he won the Serie A title with Lazio.

Eriksson added: ‘The previous day he had sent a chef who fixed the food, and then he came and was here for a day, we sat chatting, a lot about football.

‘It confirms, in a way, how great he is. He didn’t have to come here. I felt proud that he came.’

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Eriksson quit the England post after the team was knocked out of the 2006 World Cup by Portugal during the quarter-finals (pictured with a dejected Beckham after the match)

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Eriksson and Beckham pictured in 2006 leaving for the World Cup in Germany

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Beckham and Eriksson pictured in 2002 ahead of the World Cup which saw the team reach the quarter finals before being knocked out by Brazil

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Eriksson pictured in January as he announced his cancer news to the world – prompting an outpouring of praise and love for how he was dealing with his diagnosis

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Sven Goran-Eriksson with Fernando Torres during the Liverpool Legends match in March – at which he fulfilled his lifelong dream of coaching the Anfield side

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Sven-Goran Eriksson was widely celebrated before his death – seen here at Stadio Olimpico, the home of ex-team SS Lazio, in May

He then became England’s manager in 2001 – the first foreign manager of the team – and brought with him some much-needed tough love, adapting the squad into a more sophisticated and tactically refined outfit.

While he was never able to take the Three Lions all the way to a trophy, his ice-cool demeanour and refusal to let the critics win – and his steady hand guided players like Becks, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney to legend status.

He took England to a resounding 5-1 World Cup qualifying triumph in 2001 against Germany – and a month later, Beckham’s last-gasp free kick that brought the team to level pecking against Greece

However, he had been praised for his inspiring and optimistic outlook on his diagnosis, in which he implored others to live life to the full.

Shortly after going public with his diagnosis, he revealed a lifelong dream to manage Liverpool – a goal he was able to fulfil in March when he coached the Liverpool Legends to a 4-2 win against Ajax Legends at Anfield.

Earlier this year, he told MailOnline Beckham had been among those he had spoken to after making the news of his cancer public in a Swedish radio interview.

He said: ‘It’s been really crazy. The telephone phone hasn’t stopped ringing since the radio interview was broadcast, I’m surprised by all this support, I didn’t expect it all. I never imagined this sort of reaction.

‘To be honest the broadcast shouldn’t have gone out until Sunday but it did and that’s OK there is nothing I can do but I have had so many calls, all the time, it’s nice.

‘I’ve spoken with David Beckham, I won’t say what he said but it was very good of him to call. We speak every now and then, every few months and I also heard from (ex Man City boss) Roberto Mancini.

‘I’ve heard from people who were at the Football Association when I was there, Wayne Rooney’s agent sent me a message and then there were surprise calls from people I hadn’t heard from in years but it’s like that.’

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Sven-Goran Eriksson in a recent Amazon Prime documentary about his life, entitled ‘Sven’

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Sven-Goran Eriksson with his partner Yaniseth Alcides in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 22

‘I know it’s there’: Former England manager shares emotional message

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Sven-Goran Eriksson’s children Lina and Johan (pictured in Stockholm in June 2014) said today of their father: ‘He has for a long time fought bravely with his illness, but now it came to an end’

In a Prime Video documentary issued days before he died, Sven had opened up about the highs and lows of his life – including how he was coping with the news he had been diagnosed with cancer.

He said: ‘It was a shock. It’s one of those which will not go away.

‘But you can slow them down hopefully. I have no pain but I know it’s there.

‘One day it will take you. Before that day, live instead of sitting down thinking about what and when it will happen.’

Eriksson’s children, Lina and Johan, said in a statement: ‘Our father Sven-Goran Eriksson fell asleep peacefully in his home at Björkefors outside Sunne this morning. He has for a long time fought bravely with his illness, but now it came to an end

‘Our thoughts go out to Sven-Goran’s father Sven; girlfriend Yaniseth and her son Alcides; to his brother Lasse and wife Jumnong, as well as to all good friends and acquaintances in Sweden and around the world.

‘Dad told us at the beginning of this year about his serious illness and received an amazing response from friends and football fans around Europe.

‘He was invited to several football teams in England, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. They shared their love for football and for dad. It was unforgettable for both him and us.

‘He expressed his appreciation and joy and stated that such beautiful words are usually only uttered when someone has died.’

They included a quote from Sven himself, in which he said: ‘I get to hear it while I’m alive and I’m incredibly grateful for that. The heart beats twice and the tears come.

‘I have had the best job in the world and I was happy every day for long periods. It’s been fantastic.’

Lina and Johan added: ‘We have shared his gratitude and got to experience the wonderful meetings between him, football and all his friends. We thank everyone for these positive memories and your support during his illness.

‘We hope that you will remember Svennis as the good and positive person he always was both in public and at home with us.’