German daily launches Diana portrait competition

BERLIN, Aug 11 (Reuters) Top-selling German daily Bild invited its readers to take part in a competition to paint the best portrait of Princess Diana to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.

''Ten years ago, on August 31, Lady Di died in Paris,'' the paper said yesterday on its front page. ''She lives on in millions of hearts ... Dear readers, paint Diana, how she was, how she is remembered.'' Diana died in 1997 as she was being driven with her boyfriend Dodi al-Fayed at high speed through a tunnel in Paris.

Editors will choose the three best paintings and announce the winner on the August 31 anniversary. The artists can win a trip to London and a helicopter flight over Diana's grave at Althorp Park north of the city.

A selection of portraits will be printed in the paper, Bild said.

REUTERS RC RAI0423