IT is unacceptable that the inquest which opened this week into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed has taken ten years to arrange.

During that decade, myths and conspiracy theories have been given too long to take root and it is a tragic episode which could - and should - have been concluded much sooner.

The inquest is bound to be a long and traumatic affair, which will bring back painful memories, but it is a process which is necessary so that a line can finally be drawn.

Whatever the outcome, possibly six months from now, there will inevitably be those who refuse to believe it was anything other than a terrible accident.

We have always argued that holding the inquest in public - as uncomfortable as that may be - is the right thing to do and we hope it will enable the vast majority of people to reach a greater understanding of what happened on that fateful August night in Paris.

As the inquest jury's deliberations get under way, it has been revealed that the Concert for Diana, organised in the summer by Prince William and Prince Harry on what would have been their mother's 46th birthday, raised £1.2m for charity.

Eight charities will receive at least £150,000 from the proceeds.

Ten years after her death, the memory of Diana remains a powerful force for good.