PRINCESS Diana was at the centre of a political storm in Britain yesterday over her call during a visit to war torn Angola for a world wide ban on anti personnel landmines.
And, as she toured a minefield, she pleaded with MPs to end the wrangling over her Red Cross organised visit to the African state.
The dispute was triggered by reports that an unnamed government minister had described her support of the Red Cross campaign as "ill advised" and branded the princess a "loose cannon".
That in turn sparked speculation as to who the minister was.
The finger of suspicion pointed briefly at the Armed Forces Minister Sir Nicholas Soames. He quickly denied involvement and suspicion eventually alighted on Junior Defence Minister, Earl Howe.
He admitted to lunching with two journalists at the Simply Nico restaurant, near parliament, but insisted he did not recognise the comments which appeared later in the Times and Daily Telegraph.
Tory MPs claimed the princess was aligning herself with Opposition demands for an immediate British ban on landmines.
Mr Peter Viggers, a member of the Commons Defence Select Committee, rounded on her, describing her remarks as "very uninformed".
Mr David Howell, the Tory chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, reaffirmed his opposition to the princess being given any official ambassadorial role.