Let our mother rest in peace
by John Sturgis
Princes William and Harry today appealed to the nation to let their mother finally rest in peace.
In a dramatic move coming only two days after the first anniversary of Diana's death, St James's Palace issued a statement on behalf of the two Princes asking that the mourning finally end.
The statement, made on William and Harry's behalf by their father's press secretary, Sandy Henney, said: "Throughout the last year, since the death of their mother, Prince William and Prince Harry have been comforted enormously by the public sympathy and support they have been given. It has meant a great deal to them and they have asked me to express their thanks once again to everyone.
"They have also asked me to say that they believe their mother would want people now to move on - because she would have known that constant reminders of her death can create nothing but pain to those she left behind. They therefore hope, very much, that their mother and her memory will now finally be allowed to rest in peace."
The statement comes on the day that Prince Harry, 13, joined his 16-year-old brother, William, as a pupil at Eton.
It is understood the appeal was decided at Balmoral, the Queen's Scottish estate, over the weekend after a conversation between the young Princes and Ms Henney.
William and Harry are understood to be personally concerned at the constant references to their mother and the "Diana industry" which has burgeoned in the past year.
Their words are addressed not only to the media but also to commercial interests marketing Diana memorabilia, and to members of the public who continue to mourn the Princess. Their appeal follows similar pleas from figures associated with Princess Diana, including Sir Elton John, who asked for the public to stop mourning within days of performing his tribute at her funeral.
Following their mother's death, the two Princes selected mementoes of her from Kensington Palace, which they now keep in their apartment at their father's residence, St James's Palace. Details of these have been kept private to preserve the dignity of the Princes' mourning. They also regulary visit her grave at Earl Spencer's Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire.
Prince Charles and his advisers will now be hoping they can shelter behind the relative privacy that Eton affords them.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 02 September 1998