Blair defends royal family

LONDON - The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, was forced to shore up the royal family yesterday in the face of growing criticism of their lack of any public expression of grief over the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Defending them, he stressed they had much to cope with. "They are trying to make all the practical arrangements which are very complex, obviously, for the funeral, at the same time as comforting the two boys." - (Guardian Service)