MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Princes' tributes at Diana, Camilla pulls out of service

Diana's smile still shines on

Prince William, Prince Harry and Lady Sarah McCorquodale will all give readings at the memorial service for the 10th anniversary of Diana, Princess of Wales's death.

The royal brothers and Diana's eldest sister will step up in front of a 500-strong congregation at the official commemoration of the Princess's life. William and Harry usually remember their mother in private. But this year, exactly ten years to the day that Diana was killed in a car crash, they will join the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Spencer family on the emotional anniversary at a special thanksgiving service.. Mourners at the service, which will be shown live on BBC1, will be led by the Queen and other senior members of the royal family. Gordon Brown and his two predecessors as Prime Minister - Tony Blair and Sir John Major - are also expected to be present at the Guards Chapel in Wellington Barracks, London Diana, Princess of Wales's favourite hymn will form the emotional finale at the memorial service. I Vow To Thee, My Country was sung at both her wedding and funeral. It will be played at the end of the thanksgiving service at the Guards' Chapel at London's Wellington Barracks on Friday. Princes William and Harry, the Queen and the rest of the congregation will join in singing the piece, which was much loved by the Princess. The brothers personally asked for it to be included. They have overseen all the arrangements for the service, including the music and hymns, helped by Diana's family, the Spencers. Also selected is one of the Princess's favourite pieces, Rachmaninov's O Virgin Mother of God Rejoice taken from The Vespers. The choir will sing the work in its original Church Slavonic - the version Diana used to listen to. The hour-long service, which begins at midday on Friday August 31, will be conducted by the Reverend Patrick Irwin, Chaplain to the Household Division. As serving Army officers of the Household Division, the Guards' Chapel is the Princes' chapel. Sir Elton John, Sir Cliff Richard, Lord Attenborough and celebrity photographer Mario Testino - all friends of the late Princess - are among those specially invited, Clarence House announced. There will be no address from Diana's brother Earl Spencer, who, with Lady Sarah and Diana's other sister Lady Jane Fellowes, personally helped William and Harry with the arrangements for the service. Camilla pulls out of Diana servicePrince William and Prince Harry will mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death this week, as the Duchess of Cornwall prepares to stay away from the official memorial service. Camilla has pulled out of the televised commemoration which the princes are staging in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Duchess made the U-turn after facing fierce criticism for accepting the invitation offered to her by William and Harry. Explaining her actions, she said she did not want to detract from the purpose of the day. Her presence was always going to be controversial, with some adamant it was inappropriate for the woman who had an affair with the Prince of Wales while he was still married to the princess to be there. Camilla said in a statement: "I'm very touched to have been invited by Prince William and Prince Harry. I accepted and wanted to support them. 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." The Duchess is understood to have thought long and hard about the situation and talked it over with Charles, William - who only returned from holiday on Friday - Harry and her own family. It is unusual for members of the Royal Family to explain their actions in such detail and for Camilla to do so illustrates the lengths Clarence House has had to go to to deal with such a sensitive and difficult situation. The Queen, who is at Balmoral on her summer break, approved Camilla's decision. The Duchess, who has also been on the Scottish estate with the Prince of Wales, is likely to remain there while the rest of the Royal Family head to London for the service at the Guards' Chapel at Wellington Barracks on Friday.