1997: Diana's funeral watched by millions
1997 Dianas funeral watched by millions Britain and the world have said farewell to Diana Princess of Wales at the end of an unprecedented week of mourning.A four mile procession brought her coffin to Westminster Abbey where politicians and celebrities joined the Royal Family in a subdued congregation.Over a million people lined the route of the funeral cortege to the abbey and along her final journey to the Spencer family home in Northamptonshire.The day began at 0908 BST when the coffin left Kensington Palace on a gun carriage.Some of the crowd wept some applauded quietly but most watched in silence.On top of the coffin was a poignant reminder that this woman loved by millions was also a mother - a card to Mummy from one of her sons.The two princes William and Harry joined their father grandfather and the princesss brother walking behind the coffin.She was the very essence of compassion Earl SpencerOther members of the Royal Family watched the funeral cortege pass from the gates of Buckingham Palace.The union jack on top of the palace was lowered to half mast for the first time ever.Both Dianas sisters read tributes to her at the funeral service and Elton John played his re-worked version of Candle in the Wind.Her brother Lord Spencer made a funeral address in which he described as Diana the very essence of compassion of duty of style of beauty.He used the speech to blame the media for her death calling her the most hunted person of the modern age.The grieving earl also pledged to protect William and Harry and prevent them suffering a similar fate.The sometimes controversial oration was greeted with spontaneous applause.A very public day of mourning ended with a private ceremony when Diana was finally buried on an island in the heart of her family estate at Althorp.
