Diana’s Boys to Hold Concert in Her Honor

Despite being firmly committed to British republicanism, The Kensington Review noted with some happiness that Their Royal Highnesses, Princes William and Harry, have arranged a concert in memory of their mother, Diana. The tickets are £45 including booking fee, and the proceeds will go to charity. “The Concert for Diana” will take place at the new Wembley Stadium on what would have been her 46th birthday on July 1, 2007.

Prince William explained, “We both wanted to put our stamp on it. We want it to represent exactly what our mother would have wanted. So therefore the church service alone isn’t enough. We wanted to have this big concert full of energy, full of the sort of fun and happiness, which I know she would have wanted. And on her birthday as well, it’s got to be the best birthday present she ever had.”

The performers, thus far, will include friends of the former Princess of Wales as well as acts more in keeping with the tastes of the kids. Elton John and Duran Duran cover the first batch (indeed, gossips with long memories may recall Diana and the Duranies’ Simon Le Bon being rather close). Bryan Ferry will also play. Quite what the English National Ballet will do is anyone’s guess, but then, it always is. Ditto for Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber. The concert will cater to younger tastes with Pharrell Williams and Joss Stone (ask someone under 20).

The money is going to go to three different charities: Princess Diana’s Memorial Fund and Patronages; Centrepoint, UK the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity of which Prince William is Patron; and Sentebale founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso to help vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho, particularly those orphaned as a result of AIDS. All are good causes, but interestingly, the Prince’s Trust created by Prince Charles is not among them.

The tickets went on sale Wednesday, and they sold quickly. Indeed, eBay.uk had several tickets offered, and they were offered at £300 a pair. The site quickly removed all such offers explaining, “In view of the unique and commemorative nature of the Concert for Diana event and as a mark of respect for the memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, we’ve decided to prohibit the resale of tickets to this event on the site.” Quite.

© Copyright 2006 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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