Tabloids refuse to purchase pictures of dying princess

THE body of Princess Diana was lying in the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace in London early today as, even in death, photographers…

THE body of Princess Diana was lying in the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace in London early today as, even in death, photographers were attempting to make money out of her.Pictures taken of her, almost dead in the mangled wreckage of Mr Dodi al-Fayed's car, were reported to be on offer to the American supermarket tabloid, the National Enquirer, for $1 million.And a British tabloid, the New Of The World, said that early yesterday, before her death was announced in Paris, a French picture agency offered it photographs of the princess lying in the wreckage. They were priced at £200,000.Both publications said they refused to purchase the shots. There were reports last night that the driver of the car in which the princess and her companion were killed was not an experienced chauffeur but the deputy head of security at the Ritz Hotel, owned by Mr al-Fayed's father, Mr Mohammed al-Fayed.The French TV station, FR2, interviewed a British tourist, Mr Gary Dean, who said he saw the car just before it entered the tunnel. "Some motorcycles arrived soon afterwards but they were not in close pursuit and did not seem to have disturbed the driver," he said.Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced today. Discussions were under way yesterday about how much official recognition, short of a full state funeral should be granted to her - the princess lost her unqualified royal status when she had to drop the title Her Royal Highness after her divorce.Only three non-royals have been granted full state funerals in Britain - Wellington, Gladstone and Churchill.Throughout most of yesterday, there were unprecedented scenes of public grieving across Britain. The Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, caught the mood when, appearing close to tears, he said she would be remembered with the deepest affection and love.Religious leaders tried to find meaning in the tragedy. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, advised people simply that they should go to church and pray. In London last night nearly 2,000 did just that - crowding into St Paul's Cathedral, for a hastily-arranged service of remembrance.Today in Dublin, a book of condolences will be open in the British embassy. The President, Mrs Robinson, led Irish expressions of condolences yesterday.The body of the princess was brought back to England yesterday evening by her former husband, Prince Charles, and her two sisters. Last night the prince returned to the royal family's summer residence at Balmoral in Scotland to be with the couple's two sons - William, aged 15, and Harry, aged 12.Mr al-Fayed was buried last night at Brookwood Cemetery near Guildford in Surrey, following a Muslim ceremony in the London Central Mosque. The third person to die, the driver of the Mercedes 600, has not yet been named. The injured bodyguard, Mr Trevor Rees-Jones, is said to be out of danger.