a Royal Rave

LONDON – Waving their arms in the air, rocking their hips and cheering along with around 70 000 fans at London’s Wembley Stadium, Princes William and Harry paid tribute to their mother, Princess Diana, at a concert on Sunday on what would have been her 46th birthday.

The brothers strode onstage to greet fans at the venue – and millions more watching the event on television worldwide. “This evening is about all that my mother loved in life: her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends,” said William (25).Harry added a special message for the Household Cavalry, his army unit, currently serving in Iraq.”I wish I was there with you.I’m sorry I can’t be.But to all of those on operations at the moment, we’d both like to say stay safe,” he said.Harry, a second lieutenant in the regiment, was barred from going to Iraq for security reasons.World leaders, celebrities, comedians and the those linked to Diana’s charitable work chimed in with tributes in pre-recorded videos played during breaks between the six-hour concert’s musical acts.Fans cheered as the princes introduced their mother’s favourite band, Duran Duran.”Pray for sun!” Duran Duran lead singer Simon LeBon said, as the grey clouds over Wembley Stadium, Britain’s biggest sports arena, parted after weeks of soggy weather.The band broke into ‘Sunrise’, followed by ‘Wild Boys’, which they dedicated to the princes, and ‘Rio’, which they dedicated to Diana.William rotated his hips and threw up his arms as Nelly Furtado belted out a fiery rendition of ‘Man Eater’ – to the apparent embarrassment of Harry (22), who shook his head and laughed.Kate Middleton, William’s former girlfriend, also attended the concert, further fuelling rumours that the couple, who announced their split in April, have reconciled.British media have reported the couple have reunited following their split in April.William’s Clarence House office declined to comment on the reports.Among the 24 performances were sets by Rod Stewart, Kanye West and P Diddy, who performed an emotive rendition of ‘Missing You’, a cover of The Police’s 1983 ‘Every Breath You Take’.”Ten years ago Princess Diana, she went to a better place, and today we celebrate her rebirth,” Diddy said.”I love you Diana, we miss you.”Diana died on August 31 1997, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and their driver when their Mercedes crashed inside the Pont d’Alma tunnel as it sped away from media photographers.Pop songs and rap ballads at the concert were rounded out by an excerpt from ‘Swan Lake’, performed by the English National Ballet, and a selection from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals.Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair was among those who recorded a video greeting.His message was booed as he appeared on screen, only for the crowd to cheer when he paid tribute to William and Harry – the second and third in line to the British throne, respectively.”I know their mother would be very proud of them,” Blair said.As the marathon concert ended, William thanked performers.”What a show,” he said.”This is how she would want to be remembered.”At least 450 officers were on duty to police the concert following attempted car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow on Friday and Saturday.Hip-hop producer Pharrel Williams, referring to “all the crazy things that have happened over the days”, asked the crowd to join him in a cry of ‘Peace!’ Princess Diana was known for her extensive charity work – but also for her tempestuous marriage to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.The pair married in 1981 in a ceremony, but divorced in 1996.A memorial service is also planned in London on August 31, the anniversary of Diana’s death.Nampa-AP – On the Net: http://www.concertfordiana.com”This evening is about all that my mother loved in life: her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends,” said William (25).Harry added a special message for the Household Cavalry, his army unit, currently serving in Iraq.”I wish I was there with you.I’m sorry I can’t be.But to all of those on operations at the moment, we’d both like to say stay safe,” he said.Harry, a second lieutenant in the regiment, was barred from going to Iraq for security reasons.World leaders, celebrities, comedians and the those linked to Diana’s charitable work chimed in with tributes in pre-recorded videos played during breaks between the six-hour concert’s musical acts.Fans cheered as the princes introduced their mother’s favourite band, Duran Duran.”Pray for sun!” Duran Duran lead singer Simon LeBon said, as the grey clouds over Wembley Stadium, Britain’s biggest sports arena, parted after weeks of soggy weather.The band broke into ‘Sunrise’, followed by ‘Wild Boys’, which they dedicated to the princes, and ‘Rio’, which they dedicated to Diana.William rotated his hips and threw up his arms as Nelly Furtado belted out a fiery rendition of ‘Man Eater’ – to the apparent embarrassment of Harry (22), who shook his head and laughed.Kate Middleton, William’s former girlfriend, also attended the concert, further fuelling rumours that the couple, who announced their split in April, have reconciled.British media have reported the couple have reunited following their split in April.William’s Clarence House office declined to comment on the reports.Among the 24 performances were sets by Rod Stewart, Kanye West and P Diddy, who performed an emotive rendition of ‘Missing You’, a cover of The Police’s 1983 ‘Every Breath You Take’.”Ten years ago Princess Diana, she went to a better place, and today we celebrate her rebirth,” Diddy said.”I love you Diana, we miss you.”Diana died on August 31 1997, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and their driver when their Mercedes crashed inside the Pont d’Alma tunnel as it sped away from media photographers.Pop songs and rap ballads at the concert were rounded out by an excerpt from ‘Swan Lake’, performed by the English National Ballet, and a selection from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals.Ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair was among those who recorded a video greeting.His message was booed as he appeared on screen, only for the crowd to cheer when he paid tribute to William and Harry – the second and third in line to the British throne, respectively.”I know their mother would be very proud of them,” Blair said.As the marathon concert ended, William thanked performers.”What a show,” he said.”This is how she would want to be remembered.”At least 450 officers were on duty to police the concert following attempted car bomb attacks in London and Glasgow on Friday and Saturday.Hip-hop producer Pharrel Williams, referring to “all the crazy things that have happened over the days”, asked the crowd to join him in a cry of ‘Peace!’ Princess Diana was known for her extensive charity work – but also for her tempestuous marriage to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.The pair married in 1981 in a ceremony, but divorced in 1996.A memorial service is also planned in London on August 31, the anniversary of Diana’s death.Nampa-AP – On the Net: http://www.concertfordiana.com