Princes' concert to honour pop-loving Diana

Published on Sunday 26 November 2006 00:15

PRINCES William and Harry are planning a star-studded pop concert next year in honour of their late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, it was reported last night.

The event marking 10 years since her death is due to be held at Wembley Stadium on July 1, which would have been her 46th birthday.

William and Harry are expected to host the concert for 90,000 fans featuring performers from Britain and the US including Sir Elton John.

The royal brothers want it to be an "upbeat, joyous tribute to her life and work". The event is expected to be screened live on television to a worldwide audience of millions.

Proceeds are likely to go to the homeless charity Centrepoint, a favourite of Diana's, and other causes championed by the princes.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "We're considering a number of options on how best to commemorate next year. William and Harry will make a decision in due course."

The concert will be the first time the princes have publicly marked the anniversary of their mother's death. They are known to be keen to carry on the charitable works of the pop-loving princess and have become increasingly involved in the causes she supported.

The princess was an avid music lover and her favourite artists included Sir Elton, who performed 'Candle In The Wind' at her funeral at Westminster Abbey.

Shortly after her death a tribute album was compiled featuring 36 tracks. Stars from pop, rock and classical music, including Michael Jackson, Placido Domingo and Sir Paul McCartney, recorded tracks for the album, which was released on a specially created label owned solely by the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund.

The princess and her boyfriend, Dodi al-Fayed, died after the Mercedes they were travelling in crashed in the Alma underpass in Paris on August 31, 1997. They had just left the city's Ritz Hotel and were being pursued by photographers.

An investigation in France blamed the car's driver, Henri Paul, for losing control as he was high on drink and prescription drugs and driving too fast. However, many including Fayed's father Mohamed, owner of Harrod's, believe there was a conspiracy to kill the couple.