(news.sawf.org) - Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall has pulled out of Friday's memorial service to Princess Diana, announcing that her attendance would "divert attention" from the service.
Camilla had earlier accepted an invitation extended by Charles and Diana's sons Princes William and Harry, but public outrage it seems has compelled her to pull out of the service.
In a unique public statement, Camilla said that though she was "very touched" by her stepsons' gesture, she had changed her mind seeing that her attendance would 'divert attention from the purpose of the occasion'.
"I'm very touched to have been invited to attend the thanksgiving service for their mother Diana, Princess of Wales," The Sun quoted her, as saying.
"I accepted and wanted to support them. 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.
"I'm grateful to my husband, William and Harry for supporting my decision."
And while Diana's supporters are rejoicing over the fact that Camilla will no longer be seated besides Prince Charles at the Guards' Chapel in Wellington Barracks, London, on Friday to mark the tenth anniversary of Diana's death, others feel that the debacle has set her back as much as five years in her bid to capture the hearts of the public.
A senior Royal source told The Sun: "This is yet another PR disaster for Clarence House. Camilla was more than happy to stay away but decided to attend following advice from her top aides.
"As soon as news leaked out, the scale of this miscalculation began to sink in. In the past four weeks alone she has been sent dozens of letters demanding she stay away.
"Camilla has worked tirelessly to improve her public image. But this shambles has set her back five years."
Another source to the duchess told the Daily Mail: "For some reason Charles's team at Clarence House thought that as long they stuck to their agreed line - that Camilla was there at the request of William and Harry - they should be able to see it through.
"Once again, they were so very, very wrong and the issue of whether she should attend or not became a national talking point. The duchess knew her position had become untenable."
It is also being believed that Camilla's decision to pull out came after her mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II told the Duchess that she need not attend.
Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, said: "Camilla probably thought it was her duty to go, but now she's been let off the hook.
"It could have only come from the Queen. It could have only come from the highest.
"She probably said, 'You don't have to do this, Camilla - you really don't have to do this'.
"All eyes would have been on her. We would have been thinking, 'What's Camilla doing? Is she crying? Is she feeling awkward?'
"It would have been awful for her. It was madness to think she should have gone."