THE BRITISH papers have faced a difficult choice this week torn between the glitz of Gazza's marriage to Sheryl, and news of that impending divorce for Charles and Diana.
Paul Gascoigne's new father in law assured guests at the lavish reception that, contrary to the expectations of their critics, the happy couple were made for each other and their marriage would last.
The Princess of Wales, meanwhile, reportedly told journalists outside her favourite London gym that she had never wanted to divorce the future King.
"This is one hell of a week for me. I am totally raw inside," she reportedly told amazed pressmen on Monday, her 35th birthday. And the next day's headlines splashed the news of her birthday bombshell: "I never wanted a divorce. No one seems to understand that."
The princess said as much last year in her celebrated Panorama interview. But critics yesterday suggested history was in the process of being rewritten. If she had not wanted a divorce, what on earth did she think she was doing launching such a spectacular attack on her estranged husband?
More to the point, some royal watchers thought escape from the marriage the whole object of Diana's "collaboration" with the Andrew Morton book.
It is impossible to know how the princess hoped or imagined things might pan out. But in any event we are now told she is resigned to a divorce and anxious to have the negotiations brought to a swift conclusion. Lawyers for the princess presented proposals for a settlement last April, and have yet apparently to receive a formal response.
But the last few days have brought widespread and seemingly authoritative reports that Prince Charles is ready to make Diana a cash offer she cannot refuse. While the official position is that everyone wants an amicable agreement, the leaking of the details revealed the ongoing tensions and powerplay behind the scenes.
According to reports the offer was intended to be both generous and persuasive.
Forced to accept Diana's rejection of a "drip feed" allowance, the prince is said to be preparing to pay somewhere between Pounds 15 and Pounds 20 million in a one off settlement. The princess will apparently be permitted to retain her apartments at Kensington Palace and the title "Her Royal Highness".
One suggestion was that Diana would like the confirmation of the divorce agreement to come today, Independence Day. But that seems somewhat premature. And the Mirror informed us yesterday that the formal palace announcement will be postponed until after next week's state visit by President Nelson Mandela.
IF THE announcement does come within the fortnight, the popular expectation seems to be that it leaves the field clear for Prince Edward to announce own engagement.
And the speculation also is that it opens up the field for Camilla Parker Bowles. The Sun reported exclusively that Diana is to see Charles appears publicly with Camilla, no longer resents her as "the other woman", and is sympathetic to the isolation she now faces as another royal outsider.
RICHARD KAY in the Mail, meanwhile, reports that "something rather special happened to Camilla the other evening at Henry Dent Brockkhurst's party on the banks of the Thames". Prince, Charles himself was not at the party. And when Camilla slipped, away after talking to her former husband and dancing with son Tom, it was noticeably in the safe custody of bachelor John Bowes Lyon. But according to this count, he took her no further the pavement where she stepped into a car driven by the prince's personal chauffeur.
"What does this mean?" asked the writer, before venturing. "Clearly it was a proprietorial demonstration by Charles, intended to be seen - and which Camilla wished Diana to hear about."
Under a headline suggesting that Diana is "at last finding serenity", we are assured that Camilla is no longer an issue in the marriage or the divorce negotiations. It will be fascinating in years to come to see - if such is the prince's wish - the British public comes to terms with Camilla at his side. Opinion is as yet divided, although some smart money says that they will be seen together. Meanwhile, we are left to wonder what the future holds for the Princess of Wales.
There was some fun to be had this week speculating on what she might do with all that money. But most British people will feel an underlying sadness as she ponders difficult choices - a semi detached royal yet mother of the future king, torn in her personal battle between fame and the desire for anonymity, anxious apparently to remarry but weighed with royal baggage which spells clear limits on her personal choice. Diana, queen of people's hearts, soon to be divorced but never really free.