Britons feel Camilla shouldn't attend Diana's memorial service

LONDON: A clear majority of people in the United Kingdom feel that Prince Charles' wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, should not attend Princess Diana's memorial service slated for later this month, according to a poll.

Nearly 54 per cent Britons believe the presence of Camilla, famously described by Princess Diana as the third person in her marriage, would be "inappropriate", the 'Daily Mail' reported here on Monday quoting its public poll.

Only 39 per cent feel that the Duchess of Cornwall should attend the tenth death anniversary ceremony of Diana who was killed alongside her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayad and their driver in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

According to the poll, women are even more strongly opposed to Camilla's attending the ceremony, with over 61 per cent clearly against.

Prince Charles is said to have insisted that Camilla accompanies him to this important national service in the Guard's Chapel at Wellington Barracks here on August 31 fearing the Duchess' absence might be interpreted as a shadowy admission of guilt.

Moreover, for the first time, the poll claims that most Britons want the crown to pass to Prince William rather than his father when the Queen of England dies or decides to abdicate. Even if Charles become King, a large majority oppose Camilla being the Queen.

In fact, the increase in support for William may reflect his higher public image as he has started to take on more Royal duties.

Even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's ex-spin doctor Alistair Campbell had claimed in his controversial diaries last month that Diana wanted William to inherit the throne directly from the Queen.