Thousands mourn Diana at Westminster Abbey

The Great and the Good Bid Farewell to Diana

The great, the good and the popular were united in their grief as they paid their final respects to Diana.

They included a wide range of personalities, from politicians, including the former prime minister Margaret Thatcher to the popstar, Elton John, who arrived with the singer, Michael George.

Hollywood was also represented by such actors as Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise, who arrived with his actress wife, Nicole Kidman.

Mohamed Al Fayed: Solemn-faced

The stars were joined by workers from charities close to the Princess's heart as more and more mourners continued to arrive, many carrying fresh flowers.

A group of young girls sang a haunting acappella tribute, specially written by Sri Chinmoy. The girls had come from New York where they had held a three day vigil for the Princess.

Among the charity workers attending was Ray Morgan and his wife Clare from Hythe, Kent. Mr Morgan had been involved in setting up the Tushinskaya Children's Hospital in Moscow which has close links with Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"The Princess always made sure she mingled with everyone not just the dignitaries. She will be greatly missed," he said

Westminster Abbey: Paying last respects to Diana

A solemn-faced Mohamed Al Fayed arrived at the Abbey with his wife and was cheered in by the waiting crowds. Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi, the Princess's close friend, died in the fatal car crash with her.

But the biggest cheer of the morning was when the opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, clearly distraught, arrived supported by his girlfriend and a female aide.

Lord and Lady Attenborough, Sir David Frost and his wife Lady Carina Frost, the singer Sting, his wife Trudi Styler, and Sir Cliff Richard were also there.

Martin Bell, BBC journalist turned politician, arrived just behind Marmaduke Hussey, the former head of the BBC.

The Prime Minister and his wife led the few politicians present

Imran Khan arrived with his wife Jemima, one of Diana's closest friends who herself lost her father just a few weeks ago. They were accompanied by Sir James Goldsmith's widow Lady Annabel.

The Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair stopped to look at the flowers and tributes before going into the Abbey.

Other politicians included the Tory leader, William Hague, and his fiancee, Ffion Jenkins, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair and his wife, the Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Paddy Ashdown and his wife, the former prime minister, Sir Edward Heath, the deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, and his wife Pauline.

The US President, Bill Clinton, was represented by his wife, Hillary, while France was represented by the wife of the French President, Jacques Chirac.