Camilla pulls out of Diana service

By Peter Griffiths

LONDON (Reuters) - The wife of Prince Charles said on Sunday she had decided not to attend a memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana.

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, said she did not want to distract attention from the commemoration of Diana's life.

Charles's former mistress is blamed by many for breaking up his marriage to Diana. One of Diana's former closest friends, Rosa Monckton, told a Sunday newspaper that Camilla's presence would have been "deeply inappropriate".

In a statement, Camilla said she had been "touched" to be invited to the event by Charles and Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, but had decided to stay away.

"I accepted and wanted to support them," she said. "However, on reflection, I believe my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion which is to focus on the life and service of Diana."

Former royal press officer Dickie Arbiter said it was the right decision.

"I think a lot of people felt it was inappropriate that she attend this particular memorial service," he told BBC television. "At the end of the day, she shouldn't have gone."

Diana died in a Paris car crash on August 31, 1997, with her companion Dodi al-Fayed.