Blair condemns 'tacky' Diana industry

TONY BLAIR has condemned the multi-million pound memorabilia industry which is cashing in on the death of Princess Diana through "tacky and inappropriate" books, films and souvenirs.

The Prime Minister's Office spoke out as trustees of the Princess's memorial fund raced to finalise copyrights to protect many photographic images of the Princess. Moves are also under way to prevent a former royal courtier writing an insider's account of the Princess's life.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "At the time of her death everyone was clear on the need to protect the Queen and the children. The fact is that there seems to be a sort of industry growing up, with books, films and paraphernalia." Mr Blair "regards that as tacky and inappropriate", the spokesman said. Downing Street stressed that the comments were not an attack on Mohammed Al Fayed, who claimed last week that the death of the Princess and his son Dodi was not an accident. John Major, the former prime minister who has acted as a "friend" to the Princess during negotiations over her will, was also praised by Number 10.

The Prime Minister's intervention reflects growing anger both in government and royal circles at the commercial exploitation of the Princess's death. One source yesterday complained that tourists in London can buy a range of garish products including a Princess Diana ashtray.

Even more tasteless is an Internet computer game that allows players to drive a speeding Mercedes through a tunnel while being pursued by paparazzi on motorbikes, simulating the car crash in which the Princess died.

The source described the current commercial feeding frenzy as "unfortunate" given that the investigation into the crash has not even been finished. "According to the pundits Diana's death was supposed to create a softer, kinder Britain. But these things are seen by her sons and by their friends at schools," said the source.

Government and Buckingham Palace sources concede that there is little that can be done to curb documentaries, films or books on the life of Diana. But within the next two weeks trustees of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund expect to finalise a copyright agreement which will protect the use of photographs of Diana. They will be able to take action against those who infringe copyright, including many pictures of the Princess, retrospectively.

Vivienne Parry, one of the trustees, said: "We, the public, are fuelling a merchandising paradise. As a fund we cannot tell people not to buy products; what we can do is put marks on products approved by the family."