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Princes and Palace clash over 'all-night' Diana party
Last updated at 21:22pm on 19.05.07Plans for the memorial concert for Diana Princess of Wales have hit a hitch over an exclusive all-night party that Princes William and Harry intend to host after the main event.
Tempers are becoming frayed in the Royal Household over the exclusive VIP bash that is scheduled to start when the final curtain falls on the Wembley concert on July 1.
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William and Harry, who came up with the idea for the concert, hope headliners including Sir Elton John, Rod Stewart and Lily Allen will attend the party.
But senior aides feel that the all-night bash is not a fitting tribute to the late Princess.
The party, which has been kept a secret until now, is being overseen by Prince Harry's mentor and former Welsh Guards officer Mark Dyer.
Johnny Roxburgh, owner of The Admirable Crichton catering and events company, and Michael Fawcett, the Prince of Wales's former valet, have also been brought in by Clarence House to help organise it.
Dyer and Roxburgh often work together, but they were pointedly banned by the Queen from organising Charles and Camilla's wedding reception two years ago.
Says my Royal spy: 'Mark Dyer is up to his neck with plans for the party at the moment, along with Michael Fawcett and Johnny Roxburgh. Some of the senior courtiers, however, think it is entirely inappropriate.
'There is a genuine fear that the Princes could be photographed falling out of the party in the early hours. It is not seen as a fitting memorial.'
There is also concern that there are not enough sponsors involved. My source says: 'The Palace want the event to be entirely self-funded, but Pepsi, Moet and Budweiser have all turned it down for sponsorship because they feel they won't get enough branding.'
Reader views (5)
I just do NOT understand this party-mania with these two young men. They are marking the 10th Anniversary of the horrible violent death of their mother. What the heck is wrong with them?
- Christopher, NYC, USA
I agree with Julia from Rockford, USA, I just cannot see how a rock concert and party afterwards is an appropriate manner to honor the Princess of Wales. Even if Diana liked a good party, the 10th anniversary of her death is just not the occasion for this kind of event. Perhaps an evening of her favorite ballets woudl have been more appropo.
- Minerva Padron, New York City, USA
Frankly, I've been at a loss to understand the appropriateness of the concert itself.
- Julia, Rockford, USA
Princess Diana liked to party. So let the boys do their thing in the rememberence of their mother. The party will be well controlled and the two princes are not stupid. What is wrong with the palace, they seem to want to controll all the young people.
- Wendy Wallin, Australia
It is completely disrespectful to their mother's memory to be holding a drunken after-party.
- Vs, Sydney, Australia
