Click to play videoNew Delhi: Prince Charles's second wife Camilla has pulled out of the memorial service to mark the 10th death anniversary of Princess Diana.
Camilla said her presence could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion.
As Charles's former mistress, Camilla is blamed by many Britons for breaking up his marriage to Diana. Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, with her boyfriend Dodi al-Fayed.
The service to mark her death anniversary will take place in an army chapel near Buckingham Palace on Friday. More than 30 members of Britain's royal family, including Queen Elizabeth, are due to attend.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had accepted an invitation from Charles and his sons, Princes William and Harry, to attend the service Friday at the Guards Chapel in London's Wellington Barracks. But some have criticized that as inappropriate, since Camilla had had an affair with Charles when he was still married to Diana.
''I'm very touched to have been invited by Prince William and Prince Harry to attend the thanksgiving service for their mother Diana, Princess of Wales,'' the duchess said in a statement Sunday. ''I accepted and wanted to support them.
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. I'm grateful to my husband, William and Harry for supporting my decision.''
Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth II also backed the decision.
Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, said Camilla was right to stay away.
''It was madness to think she should have gone,'' Seward said.
''All eyes would have been on her. We would have been thinking, 'What's Camilla doing? Is she crying? Is she feeling awkward?' It would have been awful for her,'' she added.
Hard-core Diana fans, who accuse Camilla of destroying Diana's marriage, were relieved. ''I couldn't be happier if I'd won the lottery,'' said Joan Berry, secretary of the Diana Appreciation Society.
Diana married heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles in 1981 in a ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral televised around the world. They had two sons, William and Harry, then divorced in 1996 after admissions of adultery on both sides.
(With agency inputs)
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