The Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
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Saturday
05.30 Wake up. Why did I ever agree to do this? Tense. Drink lots of hot water and weak tea.
Beautiful sunny day. Don't watch TV at all. Order taxi - worried about being able to get out of London later, since so many people.
08.30 Walk to Abbey, via Embankment. Lovely day. Policeman escorts me to Abbey.
Go to Cloisters, Install myself in one of Martin's spare bedrooms, to do make-up etc, change. Should possibly have hairdresser, but don't want fuss and security problems.
09.00-09.30 Start warming up. Drink very weak coffee. TV's on downstairs. Avoid it. Don't get involed. Get into dress, make-up. Simon rings. Could go into Abbey with Singers at 10.25, but need 5 more mins singing. Voice not quite low enough, but it'll have to do. Should have had hair cut. No time. Can hear sound of fountain in courtyard through open window.
10.30 Go through Cloisters courtyard into Abbey. Beautiful sunshine and gardens in Cloisters with fountain. Very quiet. Recall all images of the Princess of Wales. laughing, smiling, giggling. Funerals shouldn't be just grieving. She'd be delighted about Elton John singing in Westminster Abbey.I'm going to mean what I sing.Beautiful words anyway: et lux perpetua, luceat eis. Would be easier to sing a Laudate Dominum. Just go and do it.
10.40 Now in Organ Loft. All very quiet. Family being escorted in, Royals to their places. Keep thoughts away from Princes. We're facing altar and can see very clearly. Take tuning fork out of folder and put on floor. Don't want that to fall out as I stand up.
11.00 Service begins. Boys sing beautifully. Very quiet in Abbey.
11.10 Realise heart isn't going to race. Stand up to sing. Think of words. Concentrate.
Sit down, don't fall over all the wires. Didn't make a mistake at least, thank the Lord for that. Took a breath on run up to top C. Ah well, it's done now and I can't do it again.
Service is very beautiful. Elton John's voice clear and touching in Abbey. Hope the press stay away from those boys, they're bearing up very well. Taverner is an inspired choice.
After service, back to Martin's. His daughter is there and lets me in. Change, phone Simon's answer machine. He's still on train from France. Go to find Martin in Abbey. Can't find him, but come back to his house and he an Penny have arrived whilst I was looking for him. Large sherry. He should be very proud. A lot of pressure.
Taxi to King's Cross. Arrive York 17.00. Parents pick me up. Back home. Tea-time. Usual chaos. Simon back 19.30. Didn't get Helena to bed until 20.45. Shattered. Press coming at 10.30 tomorrow. House a tip. Lots of messages on answer phone and faxes. Ring Tom back. Hope it wasn't too bad, but shan't watch it or will be depressed. Always very self-critical.

Sunday
10.25 Press due in 5 minutes. Getting Helena dressed! William just pulled a plant out of its pot and carried around the hall. Wet soil all over the place.
10.30 Interview. Can't concentrate. Hope she's good at her job. Can never tell until the article appears. Photographer due at 9a.m. tomorrow. 9a.m.! She leaves. Relax. Do the washing. Lots of messages from friends.Monday
09.00 Nice photographer. Hangs around until I'm ready. IMG says Hello! wants to come to photograph us. Next week. Not back from Spain until Sunday afternoon. How shall find lampshades for the bare bulbs before that? No curtains in drawing room yet. Oh well.
Yorkshire TV coming at 12 noon. Manage to do 20 minutes practice before they arrive. But now Guardian has nice idea for diary. When shall I do it? Go on bike ride with kids. More messages.Tuesday
Take Helena to school. Rachel back at work. Hurrah! Unpack properly. High speed. Pack. How hot is it in Seville? Get into music room. Manage 30 mins practice. It is Mahler 2, not 4 - isn't it?
11.10 Leave for airport.

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