Tribute to Diana at Christmas service

SANDRINGHAM, England (AP): Princess Diana's sons attended church on Christmas day with their father and listened to the minister pay tribute to their mother and other "loved ones" who had died.

Prince William, 15, and Prince Harry, 13, joined 14 other members of the royal family at the parish church at Sandringham - the same church where their mother was christened.

The young princes walked the quarter-mile (0.4 km) to church from the Norfolk country estate of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, where they are spending the holidays.

Harry, who braved the cold wind without an overcoat, stayed close to his father, Prince Charles. William walked with Peter Phillips, 20, the son of Princess Anne, and Viscountess Linley, the wife of Viscount Linley, Princess Margaret's son.

More than 1,000 well wishers gathered outside the small church and showered the young princes with Christmas presents, candy and flowers. Both smiled and thanked people for their good wishes.

During the service, which was relayed to the people outside by loudspeakers, Canon George Hall told the congregation: "We thank God for Diana, Princess of Wales, and for all our loved ones who have departed this life."

Sandringham, about 100 miles (160 kms) northeast of London, is close to Diana's birthplace at Park House. She was killed in a car crash in Paris on Aug. 31.

"It must be very difficult for the boys -- if you've ever lost somebody, the first Christmas is going to be very, very hard," said Geoff Larter, 66, who was among the crowd.

"But it's better that they are with their family and around things and places familiar to them." he said.[

"It's rather sad," said Judy Ellingham, 54, a market researcher. "Memories of other Christmases, and of their mother, will come flooding back -- but William and Harry will also remember the happy times they had."

Geography teacher Brian Frost, 48, said he thought the royal family, particularly Prince Charles, had tried to be more in touch with people since Diana's death.

"I was a bit angry about it at the time -- I was very anti- Charles because of the way he treated Diana -- but since then he has attempted to do the right things," he said.