Harry makes emotional Diana tribute

Prince Harry has described Diana, Princess of Wales as "the best mother in the world" on the tenth anniversary of her death.At the special thanksgiving ceremony in the Guards' Chapel in London, Harry delivered a touching address which he had written himself.He said of his mother: "She was our guardian, friend and protector. She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated."She will always be remembered for her amazing public work."But behind the media glare, to us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world. We would say that wouldn't we. But we miss her."She laughed hysterically and uncontrollably when sharing something silly she might have said or done that day."Harry added: "She encouraged us when we were nervous or unsure. She, like our father, was determined to provide us with a stable and secure childhood."He asked for her to be remembered as she was, "fun-loving, generous, down to earth and entirely genuine."Prince William also gave a bible reading in front of a congregation of 500 that included the Queen, the Prince of Wales, other members of the Royal Family, and the Spencers.The Duchess of Cornwall stayed away after she pulled out amid criticism that it was inappropriate for her to attend.Diana's death in the early hours of August 31 1997 stunned the nation. Untimely and out of the blue, the loss of the 'People's Princess' led to a mass outpouring of public grief.Distraught mourners wept openly in the streets and people flocked to Kensington Palace, leaving behind a carpet of flowers in honour of the dead Princess.Diana and boyfriend Dodi Fayed were killed when the Mercedes they were travelling in hit a pillar in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris.They were being pursued by the paparazzi after leaving the Ritz Hotel. Driver Henri Paul, who was also killed, was drunk and driving at high speed. Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones was the only survivor.The young Princes William and Harry were just 15 and 12 at the time. They did not speak at the funeral, but walked bravely behind her coffin as it proceeded through the streets on its way to Westminster Abbey in front of crowds of crying public.Those still devoted to Diana's memory have returned to Kensington Palace to pin pictures, messages and poems to the black iron gates of the Princess's former home and attend an open air service.Anne Moore, 71, from Sheffield, was outside the Guard's chapel. She said: "I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I think it was a lovely service and I agree with everything that Harry said".Dodi's father Mohamed al Fayed held a two minutes' silence in honour of his son and the Princess at his Harrods store in Knightsbridge, London.Sir Elton John, Sir Cliff Richard, Lord Attenborough and celebrity photographer Mario Testino - all friends of the late Princess - were among the guests, as were Gordon Brown and ex-Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Sir John Major.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | August 31, 2007

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