PRINCESS DIANA’S BROTHER MADE A SCATHING ATTACK ON THE MEDIA IN HIS EULOGY AT HER FUNERAL, SATURDAY AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY, WHERE THE ROYAL AND SPENCER FAMILIES GATHERED AS MILLIONS WORLDWIDE WATCHED AT HOME. DIANA’S YOUNGER BROTHER CHARLES THE 9 TH EARL SPENCER, CONDEMNED THE MEDIA AND THE PAPARAZZI THAT TRAILED HER UNTIL THE LAST NIGHT OF HER LIFE, AND PLEDGED TO PROTECT HER SON’S FROM SUCH INTRUSION. THE SERVICE BEGUN AS THE COFFIN ENTERED THE ABBEY THROUGHT THE GREAT WEST DOOR. THE CONGREGATION SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, POPULARLY KNOWN AS “GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.” THE COFFIN, DRAPED IN THE ROYAL STANDARD, WAS CARRIED UP THE CENTER AISLE, AND A PROGRAM OF HYMNS, PRAYERS AND READINGS FOLLOWED. THE SERVIC COMBINED ANGELIC AN TRADITIONALISM AND BRITISH MODERNITY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO HONOR DIANA’S PERSONALITY AND OUTLOOK. THE SERVICE INCLUDED READINGS BY HER SISTER, LADY SARAH MCCORQUODALE AND HER ELDER SISTER, LADY JANE.
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR READ ALSO. ELTON JOHN PERFORMED A SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT OF HIS SONG ” CANDLE IN THE WIND.” THE LYRICS WERE REVOKED TO HONOR DIANA, REFERRING TO HER AS “ENGLAND’S ROSE.” THE HOUR LONG PROGRAM ENDED WITH A NATIONAL MOMENT OF SILENCE. THE CORTEGE THEN LEFT THE ABBEY TO THE SOUND OF HALF-MUFFLED BELLS, PROCESSION TO THE SPENCER FAMILY ESTATE IN THE NORTHPTONSHIRE FOR PRIVATE INTERMENT. THAT DIANA’A FUNERAL WAS HELD AT WESTMINISTER ABBEY, THE SITE FOR CENTURIES OF ROYAL CORONATIONS, WEDDINGS, AND FUNERALS, WAS A SIGNIFICANT GESTURE BY THE ROYAL FAMILY. IT ACKNOWLEDGED HER IMPORTANCE TO BRITIAN AS THE MOTHER OF THR FUTURE HEIR TO THE THRONE, PRINCE WILLIAMS.