The Concert for Diana

[RAINBOWCOLOURS]

Sunday 01 July 2007
3:30pm - 10:00pm

TV - BBC1

It's ten years since Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash - barely credible when you think she's never really gone away, thanks to the conspiracy theories and the endless difficulties swirling around the long-delayed inquest. But this is no time for solemnity, as this is a happy occasion, organised by her sons Princes William and Harry. To celebrate their mother's life, they've persuaded some of her favourite artists and bands to take part in a concert from Wembley Stadium. It's not Glastonbury, so this is hardly cutting-edge stuff (Elton John, Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry, Take That), though Lily Allen and Kanye West are around to make sure we don't forget this is actually 2007. But, in a way, the music isn't really the point; it's memories of a sad and complicated woman that will be at the forefront of most minds, as the concert features films about Diana's life and work, and messages from celebrities and world leaders.

RT reviewer - Alison Graham
'Radio Times'
http://www.radiotimes.com/ListingsS...10&jspLocation=/jsp/prog_details_fullpage.jsp

 

[RAINBOWCOLOURS]

Princess of Wales Diana

Biography (1961–97)

Princess, humanitarian. Born Diana Spencer on July 1, 1961, near Sandringham, England. Diana, Princess of Wales, was one of the most adored members of the British royal family. She was the daughter of Edward John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Ruth Burke Roche, Viscountess Althorp (later known as the Honorable Frances Shand Kydd). Her parents divorced when Diana was young, and her father won custody of her and her siblings. She was educated first at Riddlesworth Hall and then went to boarding school at West Heath School.

She became Lady Diana Spencer after her father inherited the title of Earl Spencer in 1975. Although she was known for her shyness growing up, she did show an interest in music and dancing. Diana also had a great fondness for children. After attending finishing school at the Institut Alpin Videmanette in Switzerland, she moved to London. She began working with children, eventually becoming a kindergarten teacher at the Young England School.

Diana was no stranger to the British royal family, having reportedly played with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward as a child while her family rented Park House, an estate owned by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1977, she became reacquainted with their older brother, Prince Charles, who was 13 years her senior. As the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles was usually the subject of media attention and his courtship of Diana was no exception. The press and the public were fascinated by this seemingly odd couple—the reserved, horse and garden-loving prince and the shy, young woman with an interest in fashion and popular culture. When the couple married on July 29, 1981, the ceremony was broadcast on television around the world, with millions of people tuning in to see what many considered to be the wedding of the century.

On June 21, 1982, Diana and Charles had their first child, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis. He was joined by a brother, Prince Henry Charles Albert David—known widely as “Prince Harry”—more than two years later on September 15, 1984. Initially overwhelmed by her royal duties and the intense media coverage of nearly every aspect of her life, she began to develop and pursue her own interests. Diana served a strong supporter of many charities and worked to help the homeless, people living with HIV and AIDS, and children in need.

Unfortunately, the fairy tale wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles did not lead to a happily-ever-after type of marriage. The two became estranged over the years, and there were reports of infidelities by both parties. During their union, Diana struggled with depression and bulimia. The couple’s separation was announced in December 1992 by British prime minister John Major who read a statement from the royal family to the House of Commons. The divorce was finalized in 1996.
Even after the divorce, Diana maintained a high level of popularity. She devoted herself to her sons and to such charitable efforts as the battle against the use of land mines. Diana used her international celebrity to help raise awareness about this issue. She also continued to experience the negative aspects of fame—her 1997 romance with Egyptian film producer and playboy Dodi Al-Fayed caused quite a stir and created a media frenzy. While visiting Paris, the couple was involved in a car crash after trying to escape from the paparazzi on the night of August 30, 1997.
Diana survived the crash, but later succumbed to her injuries at a Paris hospital a few hours later. Al-Fayed and the driver were also killed, and a bodyguard was seriously injured. French authorities investigated the crash and the driver was found to have a high level of alcohol in his system at the time of the accident. The role of the pursuing photographers in the tragedy was also scrutinized.

News of her sudden, senseless death shocked the world. Thousands turned out to pay tribute to the "people’s princess" during her funeral procession. The funeral was held at Westminister Abbey, which was broadcast on television. Her body was later buried at her family’s estate, Althorp.

A British inquest into her death was opened in 2004. At the end of 2006, the inquest announced its findings. Their report stated that there was no conspiracy to kill Princess Diana; her death was ruled a “tragic accident.”

In 2007, marking the tenth anniversary of her death, her sons, Princes William and Harry, honored their beloved mother with a special concert to be held on what would have been her forty-sixth birthday. The proceeds of the event will go to charities supported by Diana and her sons.

Continuing her charitable efforts is the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Established after her death, the fund provides grants to numerous organizations and supports initiatives to provide care to the sick in Africa, to help refugees, and to stop the use of land mines among other efforts.

http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9273782&page=1

 

[Anneliese]

Star-studded London concert honors Diana



LONDON - Princes William and Harry were on hand at London's Wembley Stadium on Sunday for a star-studded pop concert in memory of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 46th birthday.



The brothers greeted singer Nelly Furtado and 1980s chart-toppers Duran Duran, two of the acts taking the stage to remember Diana almost 10 years after her death in a Paris car crash.

The princess died Aug. 31, 1997, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and their driver when their Mercedes crashed inside the Pont d'Alma tunnel, while media photographers pursued them.

The memorial concert, organized by her sons, features music from some of Diana's favorite acts, including Tom Jones, but will also host younger performers including Kanye West, P. Diddy, Joss Stone and Lily Allen.

The two princes were scheduled to address the 65,000-strong crowd from the stage at some point during the show. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp., William, 25, admitted to nervousness.

"We'll probably be gibbering wrecks by the end of it," he said.

Security for the event was increased after the discovery of two unexploded car bombs in central London on Friday and an attack on Glasgow airport on Saturday that involved a Jeep Cherokee slamming into the main terminal and bursting into flames.

Police said they believed Saturday's attack was linked to the car bombs, and Britain raised its terror alert to "critical" — the highest possible level. At least 450 officers were on duty to police the concert.

The show also includes a performance by the English National Ballet and songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber in honor of Diana's love of dance and theater.

A family of fans from Portsmouth in southern England said they had come to sample the wide variety of acts all playing under the same roof — but that the memory of Diana's death was also in their minds.

"I was devastated," Karen Moore, 50, a restaurateur, said of Diana's death.

Her husband, David, 52, and the couples' daughters, Lucy, 23, and Katie, 21, said they were there for the music, but also wanted to express their sympathy for the princes.

"William and Harry are the same age as us," Lucy said.

Diana is remembered for her glamour, for her extensive charity work — and for her tempestuous marriage to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne. The pair married in 1981 in a ceremony watched by millions around the world, but divorced in 1996 after admissions of adultery on both sides.

William said the concert was a chance for people to "remember all the good things about her because she's not here to defend herself when she gets criticized."

"After 10 years, there's been a rumbling of people bringing up the bad, and over time people seem to forget — or have forgotten — all the amazing things she did and what an amazing person she was," William said in the interview, which was recorded earlier this month and broadcast Friday.

Tickets for the concert cost $90 with proceeds going to causes Diana supported, including land mine and AIDS charities.

Harry, 22, said the brothers had asked Elton John to play "Candle in the Wind," the song he played at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey. Originally about Marilyn Monroe, its lyrics were reworked in tribute to Diana, and it became a worldwide No. 1 hit in 1997.

I am watching it right now and it is awesome!!! Must admit so, I have never seen Tom Jones perform in a suit!!! This is a first!!! Right now Rod Stewart is on and "Yes" he is still sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RAINBOWCOLOURS]

Many Thanks Anneliese!

And here's some more:-

Pop stars pay tribute to Princess Diana

By Paul Majendie and Mike Collett-White Reuters - 32 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - An international lineup of pop stars paid tribute to Princess Diana on Sunday at a marathon memorial concert watched by her sons William and Harry and a crowd of 60,000 at Wembley Stadium.

Elton John, friend of the princess who sang at her funeral, opened with "Your Song" in front of giant photographs of Diana taken by Mario Testino that were beamed on to the stage backdrop, and closed proceedings more than six hours later.

In between came Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry, The Feeling, Fergie, Kanye West, Sean "Diddy" Combs with "I'll Be Missing You", Orson, Lily Allen, crowd pleasers Take That, Pharrell Williams and Diana favourite The English National Ballet.

Sunday would have been Diana's 46th birthday.

Her death in a car crash in Paris in 1997 provoked an unprecedented outpouring of grief from the normally reserved British, reflecting their love of the royal dubbed the "queen of hearts" who was one of the world's most photographed women.

Welsh crooner Tom Jones showed he could still rock at 67, getting the crowd, and the princes, to their feet with "Kiss", and Rod Stewart, at 62, had the audience waving and singing along to "Sailing".

The princes, who danced and joined a Mexican wave during the concert, organised the event to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death and celebrate her charity work, which they felt had been forgotten amid negative press.

"For us this has been the most perfect way of remembering her and this is how she would want to be remembered," William, 25, said at the end of the gig, to loud applause.

Fans at the newly refurbished Wembley stadium, touched by sunshine after days of rain, shared memories of the princess.

"I camped out in London for her funeral, so I really wanted to be here today. She was a caring person who always thought of others," said Julie Rocks.

HARRY'S TRIBUTE TO TROOPS

Actor Kiefer Sutherland, one of several celebrity presenters along with Dennis Hopper, and sports heroes John McEnroe and David Beckham, called Diana a "great icon of giving".

Harry, 22, mentioned his fellow soldiers serving in Iraq. The third in line to the throne had been due to be deployed in Basra this year, but military commanders decided against sending him there, deeming it too dangerous.

"I wish I was there with you. I'm sorry I can't be ... stay safe," he said.

Security at the concert was heightened after two car bombs were found on Friday in central London and two men rammed a four-wheel-drive vehicle into Glasgow airport on Saturday.

The event also faced competition in a packed pop calendar with fans still scraping mud off after the rain-sodden Glastonbury Festival and Al Gore staging "Live Earth" concerts on July 7 around the world to highlight the climate crisis.

The show, interspersed with video clips from charities Diana supported and footage of her as a child, was broadcast to around 140 countries with a potential audience of 500 million people.

William's ex-girlfriend Kate Middleton was in the audience, amid speculation the couple may have resumed their relationship.

Harry was joined by girlfriend Chelsy Davy, and also in the crowd was Diana's brother Charles Spencer, who gave the oration at her funeral which included a bitter tirade against the media.

Yahoo News

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070701/tuk-uk-britain-diana-fa6b408.html

 

[ORANGATUANG]

I saw the concert it was excellent iam sure she would have been proud of her boys..and the music was an mixture i tell you that Tom Jones can shake what his got still still pushes my buttons ..but not as much as some one else here ...

 

[Anneliese]

Many Thanks Anneliese!

And here's some more:-

Pop stars pay tribute to Princess Diana

By Paul Majendie and Mike Collett-White Reuters - 32 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - An international lineup of pop stars paid tribute to Princess Diana on Sunday at a marathon memorial concert watched by her sons William and Harry and a crowd of 60,000 at Wembley Stadium.

Elton John, friend of the princess who sang at her funeral, opened with "Your Song" in front of giant photographs of Diana taken by Mario Testino that were beamed on to the stage backdrop, and closed proceedings more than six hours later.

In between came Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry, The Feeling, Fergie, Kanye West, Sean "Diddy" Combs with "I'll Be Missing You", Orson, Lily Allen, crowd pleasers Take That, Pharrell Williams and Diana favourite The English National Ballet.

Sunday would have been Diana's 46th birthday.

Her death in a car crash in Paris in 1997 provoked an unprecedented outpouring of grief from the normally reserved British, reflecting their love of the royal dubbed the "queen of hearts" who was one of the world's most photographed women.

Welsh crooner Tom Jones showed he could still rock at 67, getting the crowd, and the princes, to their feet with "Kiss", and Rod Stewart, at 62, had the audience waving and singing along to "Sailing".

The princes, who danced and joined a Mexican wave during the concert, organised the event to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death and celebrate her charity work, which they felt had been forgotten amid negative press.

"For us this has been the most perfect way of remembering her and this is how she would want to be remembered," William, 25, said at the end of the gig, to loud applause.

Fans at the newly refurbished Wembley stadium, touched by sunshine after days of rain, shared memories of the princess.

"I camped out in London for her funeral, so I really wanted to be here today. She was a caring person who always thought of others," said Julie Rocks.

HARRY'S TRIBUTE TO TROOPS

Actor Kiefer Sutherland, one of several celebrity presenters along with Dennis Hopper, and sports heroes John McEnroe and David Beckham, called Diana a "great icon of giving".

Harry, 22, mentioned his fellow soldiers serving in Iraq. The third in line to the throne had been due to be deployed in Basra this year, but military commanders decided against sending him there, deeming it too dangerous.

"I wish I was there with you. I'm sorry I can't be ... stay safe," he said.

Security at the concert was heightened after two car bombs were found on Friday in central London and two men rammed a four-wheel-drive vehicle into Glasgow airport on Saturday.

The event also faced competition in a packed pop calendar with fans still scraping mud off after the rain-sodden Glastonbury Festival and Al Gore staging "Live Earth" concerts on July 7 around the world to highlight the climate crisis.

The show, interspersed with video clips from charities Diana supported and footage of her as a child, was broadcast to around 140 countries with a potential audience of 500 million people.

William's ex-girlfriend Kate Middleton was in the audience, amid speculation the couple may have resumed their relationship.

Harry was joined by girlfriend Chelsy Davy, and also in the crowd was Diana's brother Charles Spencer, who gave the oration at her funeral which included a bitter tirade against the media.

Yahoo News

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070701/tuk-uk-britain-diana-fa6b408.html

You are welcome!!! Anytime!!!

 

[Anneliese]

I saw the concert it was excellent iam sure she would have been proud of her boys..and the music was an mixture i tell you that Tom Jones can shake what his got still still pushes my buttons ..but not as much as some one else here ...

Heather, Tom Jones wasn't shaking too much!!!LOL Never saw him performing in a suit before!!!

But is was an awesome concert!!!! Well done!!!

 

[latinojazz]

It was a great concert.The best was the former Supertramp´s singer and co-writer Roger Hodgson, with the incredible songs Give A Little Bit, Breakfast In America, Dreamer and The Logical Song, only with his piano-vocal or 12strings acoustic guitar-Vocal.

Impressive.And he was sick with faringitis.