PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY CELEBRATE DIANA'S MEMORY
July 5 2007, Published 6:00 a.m. ET
Princes William and Harry gave their mother a birthday party she could never forget on what would have been her 46th birthday July 1. A Concert For Diana, broadcast to 140 countries from London's Wembley Stadium, highlighted her favorite bands, charities and cultural activities nearly ten years after her death in a Paris car accident. This evening is about all that our mother loved in life -- her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends, William, 25, said. Harry, 22, gave a shout-out to the troops in Iraq. I wish I was there with you. I'm sorry I can't be ... stay safe, he said. The brothers, who cheerily clapped and gamely danced throughout the six-hour event, introduced Duran Duran, her favorite band, who dedicated 'Rio' to the People's Princess. According to VH1, the pair banned 'oldies' like their father, Prince Charles, and their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, but were joined by young royals Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Harry sat beside girlfriend Chelsy Davy, and William's rumored on-again squeeze Kate Middleton was stationed rows away.Celebs including David Beckham, Sienna Miller, Kiefer Sutherland, Gillian Anderson, Dennis Hopper, Jamie Oliver and Patsy Kensit introduced pop acts hand-picked by the Princes. Our guess is Diana would've enjoyed performances by Elton John, Duran Duran, Rod Stewart, Take That, Status Quo, Supertramp, Tom Jones, Bryan Ferry, Diddy, Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical montage and Swan Lake by The English National Ballet. We bet the Princes favor Nelly Furtado, Lily Allen, Fergie, Joss Stone, The Feeling, N.E.R.D., Orson, Will Young, Natasha Bedingfield and Kanye West. (William danced up a storm to Nelly's Maneater.) Despite the brothers' request, Elton did not perform his signature Diana tune Candle In The Wind 1997. (Backstage drama alert: He left comedian Ricky Gervais in a pinch by showing up to the stage more than ten minutes late.) However, Diddy called for her 'rebirth' during his I'll Be Missing You tribute. Proceeds from the event benefit three charities supported by Diana and her sons.
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