Hillary Clinton To Attend Funeral

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Ambassador William Crowe will attend funeral services for Princess Diana on Saturday, the White House said Tuesday.

But because the princess is not having a state funeral, neither Clinton nor Crowe will represent the United States officially, an aide said.

The announcement capped a delicate diplomatic dance over how the United States should honor the popular princess, who died early Sunday in a car crash, while maintaining proper protocol. The divorced princess was no longer an official member of the royal family.

A personal invitation to Hillary Clinton was issued by Diana’s family and the royal family “because of her close personal association” with the princess, said Joe Lockhart, White House deputy press secretary.

“She will be passing along the American public’s condolences for them,” Lockhart said.

The White House said Monday that President Clinton would not attend. He was not officially invited by the families because it will not be a state funeral.