At the service at Westminster Abbey in London, herbrother,EarlSpencer,spokemovingly of "the big sister who mothered me as a baby", calling her "the very essence of compassion, ofduty, of style, of beauty". 

But he also had hard words for the Royal Family, and for themedia. 

"I stand before you today, a representative of a family in grief before a nation in mourning and a world in shock," he said.  Addressing Diana's coffin, he said: "We want

you to know thatlife without you is very very difficult." 

In a reference to the withdrawal of the title "Her Royal Highness" afterher divorce from Prince Charles, her brother said: "She needed no Royal title to generate her particular brand of magic." 

And he promised that "her blood family" would see that her sonswere "not simply immersed by duty and tradition but can sing openly as you planned." 

He also attacked the media for its treatment of her.  His voice breaking at the end, he said goodbye to "a unique,complex, extraordinary and beautiful" woman. 

As he sat down, his head bowed, his words were followed by spontaneous applauseamong the 2,000 guests and among thecrowd outside the Abbey, where the proceedings werebeing relayed. It was the most moving moment in a ceremony which was neither royal funeral nor state funeral, but what a royal spokeswoman had called "a unique funeral for a unique person". 

Among the hymns and classical music, Elton John sang a version of his song 'Candle in the Wind' which had beenrewritten for the occasion by Bernie Taupin. Among the dignitaries, the former prime ministers and filmstars, were 500 members of the Princess's favourite charities. 

Also there was Mohamed Al Fayed, father of Dodi Fayed, the Princess's companion in her final days who was killed in the car crash in Paris last Sunday in which she was fatally injured. 

'She Intrigued Us All'

Pink carnations thrown by the public could be seen lodged amongthe lilies on the coffin as it had passed down the aisle betweenthe congregation before the service.  The coffin swayed slightly from side to side as the Welsh Guardsmen carried it across the black and white chequered floor of the nave. 

The Princess's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, walked behind as they had done during the procession to the Abbey, accompanied by Prince Charles and Earl Spencer 

In calling on the congregation to pray for the Princess, the Dean of Westminster, Dr Wesley Carr, said she had profoundlyinfluenced the nation and the world. 

"Although a Princess, she was someone for whom, from afar,we dared to feel affection, and by whom we were all intrigued," he said.  "She kept company with kings and queens, with princes and presidents, but we especially remember her humane concerns and how she met individuals and made them feel significant." 

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who had paid a moving personal tribute to the Princess on the morning of her death,read from The Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:  "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I though as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 

At 12.05pm, as the coffin was carried to the door of the greatchurch, the bearers paused on the threshold and for a minute there was total silence.  It was then taken outside and put into a hearse for the journey north to her final resting place in Northamptonshire.