|
WASHINGTON: Fascination with Princess Diana will
never end because “there’s always people out there who want to
make money” from her, her sons told US television.
In excerpts shown Monday from an
interview with NBC to be broadcast later in the day, Prince William,
heir to the British throne, also branded “outrageous” some of
the things the press wrote about his mother, who died nearly 10
years ago.
William, 24, and his brother,
Prince Harry, 22, told NBC that their mother and her popularity
continues unwaning as long as the media stoke interest.
“I can’t see it ever ending
really. People will always have a fascination about her,” Harry
told NBC’s Matt Lauer.
“At the same time there are a
lot of people feeding it, and unnecessarily, I might add,” added
William.
“I’m afraid that there’s
always people out there who want to make money.”
The two, the children of Diana
and Prince Charles, were interviewed at Clarence House, Charles’
London home, in late April ahead of the 10th anniversary of their
mother’s tragic death at 36 in a car crash in Paris on August 31,
1997.
The interview will be broadcasted
in full on NBC’s Dateline program at 10 p.m. (0200 GMT) Monday.
In excerpts shown Monday morning,
the two said the intense hounding by the media and motorcycle-riding
paparazzi had a very obvious effect on their mother while she was
alive.
“There were a lot of times that
she was very sad because she was chased down the street by guys on
motorbikes,” Harry said.
William, in a light blue oxford
shirt and slacks, said she was especially devastated by newspaper
reports saying she had put on weight.
“For any woman, I imagine, it
is outrageous that these people sit behind their desks and comment
on it. There were many times we just had to cheer her up and tell
her she was the best thing ever,” he said.
Recalling the aftermath of her
death, they said they found a lot of solace in each other.
“We were both very grateful
that each of us were there, as a shoulder to cry on,” said Harry,
wearing a pink shirt.
Many people suggested that the
two did not display any emotion in public following the crash, Harry
said.
“That was quite hard,” he
said.
“That’s our public side. If
we don’t feel comfortable pouring our eyes out in front of
thousands of people, then that’s our problem.”
“People can think whatever they
want, we have got each other to talk to.”
The two spoke of the concert they
have arranged to celebrate what would have been Diana’s 46th
birthday on July 1.
The charity concert, in
London’s Wembley Stadium, will feature her favorite band Duran
Duran, Elton John and the English National Ballet.
“We didn’t want to have just
a memorial service,” said William.
|
