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Diana on

probation after

royal divorce

LONDON: Princess Diana will serve a period of probation and not be given any royal duties after her divorce from Prince Charles, a British newspaper said on Sunday.

The Sunday Telegraph said Queen Elizabeth issued the order to curtail Diana's royal duties because she was displeased with her behaviour during the divorce negotiations. Senior British ministers will re-examine her position in time.

"The Queen has been dismayed by the acrimonious progress of the divorce negotiations, and was unhappy when the princess issued a statement confirming that a divorce and new title had been agreed," the Sunday Telegraph said.

"She hopes that after the divorce the princess will conduct herself with dignity."

The Telegraph gave no source for its information and no one from the royal household was immediately available to comment.

The latest royal order will be a blow to Diana who said in a television interview aired around the globe that she wanted to become a roving ambassador for Britain, a "Queen of Hearts".

"It is now thought inconceivable that in the near future she would be asked to undertake any engagement overseas on behalf of the Royal Family or government," the newspaper said.

Relations between Diana, 34, and Buckingham Palace deteriorated after the television interview last November in which she also admitted she had been unfaithful to Charles and said she doubted his suitability to be king.

Shortly afterwards the queen wrote to the feuding couple effectively ordering them to divorce.

Charles and Diana married in a fairytale wedding in London's St Paul's cathedral in 1981 but separated 11 years later.

Queen Elizabeth's second son, Prince Andrew and his wife the Duchess of York, recently filed for divorce.-Reuter