Diana: Conservatives were 'hopeless'

Diana Lashes Out at Tories' Landmines Policy

She had words of encouragement for the present Government, and its policy on landmines. "Its position on this subject has always been clear," she said. "It is going to do great work. Its predecessor was really hopeless."

Since Diana came out in favour of a worlwide ban on the use of landmines, she has visited Angola, and most recently, Bosnia, to draw attention to the suffering they cause. She cancelled a meeting on the subject with MPs after criticism from some Conservative members.

Wiltshire: Diana must remember her apolitical role

David Wiltshire interviewed on the Today programme

Her comments on the Tory government have angered Conservative MPs. David Wiltshire, the member for Spelthorne, said it was "seriously dangerous to drag the Royal Family into party politics". He said if the princess was unwilling to behave in a way commensurate with her role, she should "go away and be a private citizen".

But the Tory peer and former Daily Telegraph editor, Lord Deedes - who accompanied Diana on her visits to Angola and Bosnia - was quick to defend her. "What has to be borne in mind is that having seen what she's seen on the minefields, having seen the crippled children and the women, and the havoc these mines wreak she feels very strongly and thinks ... it's incredible that the government should show such indifference towards this scandal for so long.

Deedes: Diana is right

Lord Deedes talks to the Today programme

"I myself had my struggles with the last government to try to draw attention to this and failed, so I think the emotion she feels on this subject has to be taken into account," he added.

But he said that it might have been wiser for Diana not to have attacked the previous Tory government while at the same time praising the present one. Even so, he felt Diana had succeeded in highlighting a very serious issue. "What she said may have the effect of highlighting what is in fact an international scandal and the failure of the world to do something about it is scandalous," he said.

Princess Wants Out

Le Monde: Diana's outlet for her dislike of British journalists

The princess said that she saw her destiny as helping vulnerable people in society.

She was characteristically scathing of the Royal Family: "From the moment I came into this family, nothing, of any sort, could be done naturally." And she she said she was now free of the family's control. "No one can tell me how to behave. I work by instinct. That is my best adviser," she said.

"My father always taught me to treat people as equals. I have always done that and I am sure that Harry and William have learned that. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to try to help the most vulnerable people in society. This is an aim and henceforth an essential part of my life, a sort of destiny," she added.

Asked to describe her role, she said: "I would use the word 'messenger'."