Diana's sons kept royals together after her death

One of the lasting and most poignant scenes from the funeral of Princess Diana was the sight of her ex-husband and two young sons solemnly walking in silence as her coffin was led through London's streets.

Despite some predictions that the family she left behind would implode or disintegrate, the outlook for the three British princes a decade after her fatal car crash could hardly be rosier, commentators say.

At her funeral, watched by millions around the world just as her wedding had been, Diana's brother Earl Spencer predicted problems ahead for the House of Windsor, vowing her two sons William and Harry would be brought up by their "blood family".

Things looked particularly grim for Diana's ex-husband, Prince Charles, with polls saying Britons did not want him to be king and adamant he should never share the throne with his then-mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles.

A decade on, the House of Windsor could scarcely have dreamed how well the situation turned out for the heir-to-the-throne or how well William and Harry, aged just 15 and 12 when their mother died, have coped.

"We all remember Lord Spencer getting up, predicting family chaos and that hasn't happened," royal biographer Robert Lacey told Reuters.

"The whole process has been much more healing and positive than people expected."

Many people had expected the two boys would resent their father for the break-up of his marriage, echoing the way many Britons felt about the prince's treatment of the idolised Diana.

However, one of the notable developments has been the brothers' easy and close relationship with Charles.

"People see William and Harry as surrogates for their mother, and the expectation was that after her death they would continue the battle on her behalf," Mr Lacey said.

"They have turned out to be 100 per cent Windsors, incredibly supportive of Charles. You almost forget the potential conflict that exists between father and growing sons."

Following anger at the role of the paparazzi, who pursued Diana's car on the night it crashed in a Paris road tunnel, the princes were allowed to grow up out of the media spotlight.

Since then, some of their teenage indiscretions have made the headlines.

The princes' popularity has helped the public to accept Charles's relationship and, ultimately, marriage to Camilla which finally brought him happiness, royal biographer Penny Junor said.

"To be honest with you, she's always been very close to me and William. But no, she's not the wicked stepmother," Harry said in an interview to mark his 21st birthday.

Sticking together as a unit, perhaps unified with a dislike of the media, has helped the royal family as a whole.

"Life is good for all of them. The monarchy is stronger than it was 10 years ago and I think an awful lot has been learnt from Diana's life and her death that has improved the monarchy," Ms Junor said.

The only cloud on the horizon is the fear that history may repeat itself and the young royals may face the same relentless focus on their private lives that dogged Diana. Earlier this year, William was said to be angry as paparazzi chased his on-off girlfriend Kate Middleton amid speculation that the couple might get engaged.

"Intrusion has come pretty close to breaking up their relationship. The important thing is William knows his own mind and will not be influenced by excessive pressure from anyone," said Ms Junor.