Prince William reading opens Diana memorial service in London

LONDON: A memorial service led by Princes William and Harry marking the 10-year anniversary of the death of their mother, Diana, princess of Wales, got under way in London on Friday with a reading by William, the future king.   

Around 500 guests including senior royals, friends of Diana and politicians attended the ceremony, organised by the royal brothers and held at the Guards Chapel near Buckingham Palace in central London.   

William, 25, read from Saint Paul's letter to the Ephesians in the Bible.   

Members of the public were not invited, but hundreds of people gathered outside the chapel and cheered William and Harry as they arrived to greet guests.   

Harry, 22, was expected to make a personal address during the event.   

Those in attendance include Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles as well as Diana's two sisters and brother, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his predecessor Tony Blair.   

The wife of Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, pulled out of attending the service Sunday, saying she did not want to be a distraction.   

Diana had described Camilla as the third person in her marriage because she and Charles conducted a lengthy affair.   

Mohamed Al Fayed, father of Diana's boyfriend Dodi, who was also killed in the crash, was not invited, but his daughter Camilla did go.