Quiet interment to follow day of pomp

With its candles, flowers and enigmatic portrait, the scene could be that of a Catholic shrine.

As Buckingham Palace announced details of Diana's funeral service at Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning, this small, quiet village church in rural Northamptonshire is slowly gaining the appearance of a place of pilgrimage.

The Spencer Chapel, in the north-east corner of St Mary the Virgin Church at Great Brington, is the spot where 20 generations of Spencers have been buried.

On Saturday afternoon, after the sombre pomp and ceremony of the Abbey service, this is the tranquil place to which Diana's remains will return. Probably, like those of her ancestors, in ashes.

If, in future years, there is a informal cult of Diana, the Princess martyred by a drunk driver, the media or fame, then it will be to here, this quiet churchyard, that the followers will come. And yesterday's incredible outpouring of grief seems strong enough to sustain her name and memory.

Thousands of mourners queued yesterday - many for up to six hours - at St James's Palace, where the Princess's body lies in the Chapel of Rest, to sign one of five Books of Condolence.

In extraordinary scenes, a huge carpet of flowers lined the gates of Kensington Palace while police estimated that more than 50,000 mourners made the pilgrimage to the Princess's home.

Last night, huge grief-stricken crowds of people wanting to pay their final respects led police to close roads around Buckingham Palace.

The roads, including the Mall and Constitution Hill, were unexpectedly cleared of traffic until the day after the funeral of the Princess. The crowds - including those thousands queueing to commit their thoughts to paper - overflowed the area's famous extra-wide pavements.

A police spokesman said simply: "The decision to close was made because of the scale of the crowds."

The queues are set to continue non-stop; a door in St James's Palace will remain open 24 hours a day until midnight on Friday.

The grief also made its mark in more modern forms.

More than 60,000 people recorded their feelings of sadness direct from home or office, using the Internet. They responded to a special page for condolences attached to a section of Buckingham Palace's official website devoted to the death of the Princess.

Saturday's funeral, at 11am in Westminster Abbey, will be neither a full State occasion nor a ceremonial Royal funeral but a "unique" occasion to reflect her personality.

Although details of the guest list have not yet been released President Chirac of France has made clear his desire to be there and there were signs last night that President Clinton will attend.

While international attention, via television, will be on the service itself, the processions of the body through London and home to Northamptonshire will also be focal points of deep emotion for the British public.

Already, and spontaneously, much of the country is planning to shut down on the day, with sporting events postponed, including the NatWest cricket final, supermarkets, cinemas and theatres closing for a period and the National Lottery draw put back 24 hours.

A number of weddings have also been postponed, brides and grooms unwilling to get married on such a day of sorrow.

Unofficial candlelit vigils, flower-laying, and periods of silence are all certain to be staged by groups and individuals as people seek ways of reflecting their sense of loss.