Princess Diana's coffin targeted by grave robbers

Princess Diana's tomb has been targeted four times since her burial on the family estate at Althorp, Northamptonshire, in 1997, her brother said today.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme ahead of the 20th anniversary of his sister's death, Earl Spencer said: "We have had four attempted break-ins towards her body in the last 20 years. I am very glad that we have seen all of them off."

He did not discuss a motive or details of the crimes, but said there were "some odd people out there" and that Althorp was "the safest place" for Diana's grave.

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Spencer also discussed his moving eulogy, which he said he still stands by. He revealed he still has nightmares about his sister's funeral and the "harrowing" procession.

He said he was "lied to" by palace aides, who told him Princes William and Harry wanted to walk behind their mother's coffin.

Harry, who was 12 at the time of the 30-minute funeral procession, recently opened up about the experience, saying no child "should be asked to do that".]

Spencer's comments made headlines immediately in UK broadsheets and Hello! magazine.

With just a few weeks to go before the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death on 31 August, new information is being released about how the Royal Family handled the loss. ITV has aired a documentary with the princes, titled Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy. Photos from Diana's personal photo album have also been published.

Palace releases photos of Princess Diana with young sons

24 July

Kensington Palace has released photos from Princess Diana's personal album before tonight's televised interviews with Princes William and Harry, a touching tribute in which they recall the final conversation with their mother in August 1997.

The never-before-distributed photos were released ahead of ITV's premiere of Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy. This documentary will be the first time Prince William and Prince Harry discuss at length their mother's death in a Paris automobile accident.

Prince Harry has previously spoken candidly about the trauma of walking behind his mother's coffin at age 12, while millions of people watched on television. He admitted to seeking professional help to come to terms with his mother's death.

William's memories include a meeting, organised by his mother, with Naomi Campbell and other supermodels, says The Independent. And Campbell sent a tribute to Diana on Twitter ahead of the programme.

The documentary also features Sir Elton John, who worked as an activist alongside Princess Diana for HIV/Aids patients.

"She had this incredible ability… to make people feel at ease," the singer says in the documentary. "I haven't experienced many people in my life who have that ability. But she could walk into a room of people and make them feel as if everything was great."