The Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
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Many people have asked Lynne the same questions since that terrible day in September, 1997. What did it feel like? Were you nervous? Of course, aside from the great honour of being asked, the emotions of that day were jumbled and complex. The Guardian newspaper asked Lynne to share her diary of the days immediately surrounding the funeral and it is this diary that is reproduced here.

Song of Mourning
A phone call two days before, and classical singer Lynne Dawson was booked to perform at the funeral of Diana. In her diary from last week, she muses on nerves and motherhood.

Wednesday September 3 1997
14.15 In hotel room, Berlin. Just about to stop calls and get some sleep. Magic Flute last night. Warmed up this morning, did some learning, now have to sleep. My husband Simon phones. Martin Neary (Westminster Abbey Organist and Master of the Choristers) has just spoken to him; would I be willing to sing at the funeral of Diana on Saturday? Not joking. Simon informs me that they want part of Libera Me from Verdi's Requiem, but he doesn't know which part. I ring Martin and he confirms he'd like me to sing; 99 per cent sure Verdi. apparently the Verdi request had come via the palace about 20 minutes earlier. We'll all be in the organ loft.I eventually discover which section from Libera Me they want and agree to do it.Go to Schauspielhaus just over the square and buy a copy of Requiem score, return to the hotel. Shall arrive around noon Friday. Ring Simon back quickly to ask him to bring assortment of dresses to London when he leaves this afternoon.Now go over to Statsoper to find staff repetiteur to play through it for me. Thank heavens I sang it last year.18.00 Back from Opera House. Phone Tom, agent. Watched CNN coverage. Phoned home. Upset. Shan't see children until Saturday evening now.

Thursday
Magic Flute tonight. Don't want to talk on telephone all day. Shan't have any voice tonight. Just Simon, Rachel (nanny), see if children O.K. Warm up,.
16.30Press association call hotel. Order of Service was released by Palace. It's really happening.
17.00 Go to Opera House. Sing Flute. Chatter after performance at Opera House, then in hotel with friends from Hamburg. Into room.
00.00 Pack. Call home. Yorkshire TV want interview.
00.30Turn out light. Can't stop singing Requiem. Heart racing. Can't calm down. Turning over and over. Read a bit. No good.
03.30 Still looking at clock.

Friday
06.00 Alarm. Get up, bath, finish packing, pay, leave, airport.
09.40 Arrive Heathrow. Ring Rachel at home; the press were on the doorstep at 08.30. Still don't know whether to wear long or short dress. 10.00 IMG. Good wishes from everyone. Lots of press interest. Refused most. Can't talk all day.
11.00 Car to Abbey via hotel. Interviews in car with Yorkshire Evening Press and the Times. Ask hotel to put iron in room. Traffic not too bad. Arrive hotel. Room decorated last week, reeks of paint. Can't sleep there. No iron. Linen's supposed to be creased isn't it?...
12.00 Arrive Abbey. Nice to be there and concentrate on the music. Piano rehearsal at Martin's house. Warm up a bit. Starts 14.00, Verdi around 14.30. Times photographer needs photo. Go to song school within Abbey Cloisters where BBC singers are rehearsing. Good to see so many friends. 15 minute rehearsal. I don't sing. Now into the Abbey to do it in there. Relieved to be singing in Organ Loft; removed from congregation. Photos for the Times. Not now. Run into Abbey. Just in time, thought rehearsal started at 14.00 but we're going through it before that too. Oops. Go through it. Now do photos. Janie leaves.
14.00Rehearsal begins. Requiem near beginning. Go through it twice. Don't sing out all the time. Don't push it, remember you sang Pamina last night! We'll do it again after rehearsal. Only clergy, choirs, organist there. Elton John coming later.
16.00 Back to hotel to collect dress. Room still smells very strongly of paint. Speak to mangager. Very nice, will sort it out. Speak to Simon, Mum, William (son). Eat in room. Don't want to talk any more. Watch movie channel all evening. Can't watch Diana coverage. Avoid it.
22.00 Sleep.

Continued on page 2

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