U.S. rapper Kanye West and British rocker Rod Stewart have been added to the lineup of artists performing at a July 1 concert to mark the 10th anniversary of
Princess Diana’s death in a car crash.
Diana’s sons, princes William and Harry, are organizing the event at London’s Wembley stadium, and officials said Harry, due to go to Iraq in the coming weeks to serve in the army, would probably be allowed leave to return for it.
“I’ve been advised that the commanding officer is likely to grant him leave for a short period of time,” the concert’s project director Geoffrey Matthews told reporters on Thursday.
Also added to the list of performers at the same briefing were Lily Allen, Natasha Bedingfield, The Feeling, James Morrison, Orson and Status Quo.
They will join previously announced acts including Elton John, who sang a special version of his hit “Candle In the
Wind” at Diana’s funeral, Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry, Joss Stone and Pharrell Williams.
Media commentators have said the concert is in danger of being overshadowed by a series of Live Earth environmental gigs being held around the world six days later.
Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Black Eyed Peas have already committed to the July 7 events.
But Matthews played down the concerns.
“It’s not healthy to compare the two events: they are completely different,” he said.
A further 10,000 tickets go on sale via the Web site
(www.concertfordiana.com) from 0800 GMT on Friday.
In December, when the concert was first announced, 22,500 tickets were made available and sold out in 17 minutes. The eventual gate is expected to be 62,000.
The concert, which will be broadcast in 140 countries, will also include a performance by the English National Ballet and a musicals medley by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Both the princes are expected to make a stage appearance at some point during the five-hour event.
The concert is being held on what would have been Diana’s
46th birthday. “It’s got to be the best birthday present she ever had,” Prince William said in a statement.
In addition to the concert, there will be a church memorial service for Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris on August
31, 1997.
