The British media are impressed with the initiative, which was taken solely by William and Harry themselves, to release a statement condemning the image of their mother dying in the back of the crashed Mercedes.
 

According to press reports, it was William who took the lead to make public the hurt he and Harry feel over the publication of the paparazzi photograph showing Diana receiving medical attention in the moments after the car crash which killed herself, boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed and chauffeur Henri Paul.

The controversial image is taken from a new book on the late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana: The Criminal Investigation by Jean-Michel Caradec'h, in which the author is reported to make "lurid allegations" about the behaviour of Diana and Dodi in the car in the moments before the fatal crash.
 

Currently continuing his army training at Sandhurst, Charles and Diana's oldest son phoned Harry at Bovington army camp to discuss options.

Although they released a statement condemning the autobiography written by Diana's former "rock", Paul Burrell, in recent times both Princes have taken the view that they should not comment on controversies surrounding their mother. This is because the Princes believe public words from themselves do nothing but prolong the publicity, especially when, as in this case, it relates to the promotion of a new book.
 

However, in this instance they simply wished to protect their mother, a source saying of the telephone conversation: "It was a highly emotional call for both of the boys...for a magazine to publish a photograph of their dying mother as she is tended to by paramedics is beyond the pale."

"Obviously they haven't seen the pictures, but they honestly believe it simply couldn't get much worse. Just to know that they are out there is distressing enough. Sometimes you just have to stand up and be counted."

However, despite the clear signal that the publication has understandably upset her sons — who are pictured in the Daily Star playing polo just a few hours before news of the controversy — the editor who took the decision to print the image of Diana as she lay dying remains defiant.

Speaking from the offices of Italy's Chi magazine, editor Umberto Brindani says he is "surprised at the clamour" his decision has caused, but is standing by his decision to publish, saying: "The photograph is not brutal or offensive, it is not morbid or shocking. It would say it is touching and tender and I retain that in no way is it a lack of respect towards Princess Diana or the sensitivity of her family and of readers in general."
 

"I am a little bit surprised by the reaction of the England people and the England media."

Brindani has even suggested the paparazzi photograph sheds light on what really went on in the aftermath of the crash on August 31st 1997, saying: "I can understand the reaction of Prince William and Prince Harry, but I think that this picture that we published is part of our French official inquiry."

However, Diana's former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, is dismissive of such a claim and is adamant that the image should not have been published, telling ITN News: "This is, in my view, a publicity stunt to advertise these pictures, and I think the British people —and people generally throughout the world — will say: 'Look, we don't want to see that. I think it is distasteful'."

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Name: Jemima

Comment: Paul Burrell gave Scotland Yard and the Mirror the letter in which Diana wrote that she expected Charles would make sure she was in a severe accident which would either cost her life or maime her gravely. Those words flowed from Diana's own pen regarding her own husband such was his cavalier attitude toward her life. Scotland Yard rightly questioned Charles concerning the accident. Unlike Chi's pictures, that news has been broadcast round the world and is valid information straight from a fearful princess. There is no harm in Coombes repeating what is public information. There is no comparison to photographs taken in the throes of death and published without the consent of Diana's family.

Name: henri m.	Comment: I hope that miss Coombs realizes that with her words (holding Prince Charles responsible Diana's 'assassination') she is in exact the same league as the Italian magazine Chi. Both hit the two sons extremely hard. Under the belt. It is their mother and father, to whom both are very devoted to.

Name: Mrs Coombs

Comment: I hope it is not a case of too little too late! Diana's boys should be ashamed of themselves for not standing up for her sooner, especially once they became men. Allowing that tripe to come out of Clarence House about her and to written by the likes of Penny Junor and Lady(?) Colin Campbell was a disgrace! As as for Charles being hurt by the article-- rubbish! Another example of their father trying to gain brownie points. Let's not forget, he is still under the cloud of suspicion for her assassination!