It is sad that the lovely Princess Diana died ten years ago. Alas, she is far from having been forgotten and Friday, July 31, will be the day of an emotional anniversary memorial service.

When Princess Diana, warmly called the People's Princess, passed away in that tragic car accident a decade ago, the world was overcome with shock and grief. Her beauty, her tenderness and her compassion, were meant to shine on for years to come.

It was not to be so though.

This Friday, a select list of people have been invited to the Guards' Chapel at London's Wellington Barracks, where Diana, Princess of Wales, will be remembered.

Among the guests are iconic British singer Sir Elton John, who sang “Candle in the Wind” at Diana’s funeral; celebrity photographer Mario Testino, whose black & white pics of the late princess have become a legend of their own; English singer and actor Sir Cliff Richard and Lord Attenborough, all close friends of Diana’s.

The reported 500 guests, whose names are being kept a secret, will join the Queen, the Prince of Wales and members of the Spencer family. Princes William and Harry, as well as Diana’s eldest sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale, will give readings at the memorial service.

There has been some hubbub concerning the participation of Camilla Parker-Bowles, Prince Charles’s current wife. The Duchess of Cornwall had been invited both by her husband and by her two stepsons to participate, however she announced earlier this week that she would not come.

“I accepted and wanted to support them,” Camilla said in a statement. “However, on reflection, I believe my attendance could divert attention from the purpose of the occasion, which is to focus on the life and service of Diana.”

Camilla has been fiercely criticized by the British public for having put herself between Diana and Charles. Diana herself has referred to Camilla as the third person in her marriage. Camilla and Charles married in 2005.

Friday’s memorial service has been organized by William and Harry, with the help of Diana's brother Earl Spencer, Lady Sarah and Diana's other sister Lady Jane Fellowes.

Earlier this summer, the two royal brothers organized a grand concert meant as a birthday present for their late mother. Diana would have turned 46 on July 1.

Among the artists who performed at London’s Wembley Stadium were Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Bryan Ferry, Nelly Furtado, a reunited Take That, Joss Stone, Lily Allen, Status Quo, Kanye West and P Diddy.

Some 63,000 fans gathered for the concert, while more than 500 million people around the world watched it broadcast on television. Of these, 15 million viewers were British.