British princes honour their mother

Waving their arms in the air and dancing with 70,000 fans at London's Wembley Stadium, princes William and Harry celebrated the life of their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 46th birthday at a concert they organized.

British princes honor Diana with concert

William, 25, rocked his hips as Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado belted out her song "Man Eater" - to the embarrassment of younger brother Harry, who shook his head and laughed.

Harry, 22, said they asked Elton John to play "Candle in the Wind," the song he sang at Diana's 1997 funeral in Westminster Abbey. Originally about Marilyn Monroe, its lyrics were reworked in tribute to Diana and it became a worldwide No. 1 hit that same year.

"This evening is about all that my mother loved in life: her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends," William told the crowd, thanking them and millions more who watched the show on television.

Diana died Aug. 31, 1997, along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and their driver when their Mercedes crashed inside the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris with media photographers in hot pursuit. Security for the event was increased after the discovery of two unexploded car bombs in central London on Friday and an attack on Glasgow airport on Saturday where a sports utility vehicle slammed into the main terminal and burst into flames. At least 450 officers patrolled the concert.

The concert mixed rock, pop, hip hop and classical ballet and featured some of Diana's favorite acts including Duran Duran and Tom Jones. In honor of her love of dance and theater, there was a performance of an extract from "Swan Lake" by the English National Ballet and songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Among the 24 performances were songs by Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Joss Stone, Lily Allen and Sean "Diddy" Combs, who performed an emotive rendition of "Missing You" - a cover of The Police's 1983 "Every Breath You Take."

"Ten years ago Princess Diana, she went to a better place, and today we celebrate her rebirth," Combs said. "I love you Diana, we miss you."

Ex-British prime minister Tony Blair was among those who recorded a video greeting. His message was booed as he appeared on screen, but the crowd cheered when he paid tribute to William and Harry - the second and third in line to the British throne, respectively.

"I know their mother would be very proud of them," Blair said.

William's former girlfriend Kate Middleton attended the concert, further fueling rumors that the couple, who announced their split in April, have reconciled. William's Clarence House office has declined to comment on media reports that the two are back together.

Weeks of soggy weather lifted as the sun peeked out from behind gray clouds rolling over the newly built glass-and-steel stadium - Britain's largest - which usually hosts soccer games.

"This is not an exercise in nostalgia, this is a party!" director and actor Dennis Hopper said, introducing Allen, the British singing star who performed a cheery rendition of her chart-topper "Smile."

The crowd cheered as John played the piano and sang "Your Song" - and they were on their feet as the princes introduced Duran Duran.

"Pray for sun!" lead singer Simon LeBon told the crowd as the band broke into "Sunrise," followed by "Rio," which they dedicated to the late princess.

Harry added a special message for his army unit, currently serving in Iraq. "I wish I was there with you. I'm sorry I can't be. But to all of those on operations at the moment, we'd both like to say stay safe," he said.

Harry, a second lieutenant in the regiment, was barred from going to Iraq for security reasons.

A family of fans from Portsmouth in southern England said they had come to sample the wide variety of acts all playing under the same roof - but Diana was also in their minds.

"I was devastated," Karen Moore, 50, a restaurateur, said of her death. Diana is remembered for her glamour, her extensive charity work and her tempestuous marriage to Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.

The pair married in 1981 in a ceremony watched by millions around the world, but divorced in 1996 after admissions of adultery on both sides. William said the concert was a chance for people to "remember all the good things about her because she's not here to defend herself when she gets criticized."

Tickets for the concert cost $90 with proceeds going to causes Diana supported. A memorial service is also planned in London on Aug. 31, the anniversary of Diana's death

Harry: Brave young prince

Harry, now 17, lost his mother when he was only 12

The 17-year-old Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, is described by royal watchers as an active and confident young man, at ease with people and his role. Although christened Henry Charles Albert David Windsor, the youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales is always known as Harry - unless, as his elder brother William once said, he is "being naughty".

An outgoing little boy, he carried out his first public engagement at the age of just eight when he joined his mother on a visit to the base of the Light Dragoons in Germany, enthusiastic at the prospect of donning uniform.

Royal watchers were impressed with his bravery at Diana's funeral

But Harry was just short of his 13th birthday when, on the evening of 30 August 1997, Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris.

At her funeral in London, he joined the other men of the family to walk behind the cortege.

Royal watchers were incredibly impressed with the bravery of both Harry and William, then 15.

His uncle, Earl Spencer, later said: "My admiration for those boys is beyond bounds - it was the most amazing display of courage I'll ever see."

Harry has to a certain extent always been in the shadow of his brother, who is second in line to the throne behind the Prince of Wales.

But Diana's death appeared to cement a strong bond between Harry and his father, with whom he is now said to be very close, the prince is sporty and loves skiing the Princess of Wales was always anxious that her two sons should be treated equally, and Charles is known to ensure that both boys are given equal affection and attention.

Both princes are keen on sport, with Harry's favourites skiing and shooting. Photographs in a Sunday newspaper in 1998 of Harry abseiling head-first down a dam revealed his fearless nature - but caused serious concern for his safety.

He was not wearing a helmet or a back-up rope, and climbing experts described the incident as foolhardy, he caused a press furore when snapped abseiling without a helmet In September of that year Prince Harry joined his brother at school in Eton. His family was delighted that he had passed the entrance exam, because he had had to repeat his final year at prep school.

And in November last year he emerged unscathed after taking part in the school's famous Wall Game, one of Britain's oldest and most violent school games.