Tony Blair's government considered turning the Millennium Dome into a shrine to ...

Tony Blair's government considered turning the Millennium Dome into a shrine to Princess Diana following her death, newly released filed reveal After Diana's death, proposal to turn dome into children's hospital was discussed Aides hoped to connect project to sympathetic cause that would draw sponsors Ministers were told idea would 'not go down particularly well with Royal Family' Files released by National Archives also reveal scrapping project was considered

By Claire Ellcott Political Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: 00:00 BST, 20 July 2021 | Updated: 00:00 BST, 20 July 2021

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Ministers considered turning the unpopular Millennium Dome into a shrine to Princess Diana, newly released files reveal.

After the death of the Princess of Wales, the prospect of turning the 'white elephant' building into a hospital for children was discussed.

Files released by the National Archives at Kew in London also reveal that Tony Blair's government seriously considered scrapping it altogether in the run-up to 2000.

Ministers were concerned that it was unpopular with the public, had no real vision, lacked funding and represented a waste of public money.

When the princess died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, aides saw an opportunity to connect the Greenwich project with a cause that would be sure to attract sympathy and sponsorship.

Ministers considered turning the unpopular Millennium Dome in Greenwich into a shrine to Princess Diana after her death in 1997, files newly released by the National Archives reveal

Bill Clinton snubbed Queen’s offer of tea at the Palace, files reveal

Bill Clinton snubbed the Queen’s offer of tea at the Palace when he visited the UK in 1997, the files reveal.

When the US president came to visit newly elected prime minister Tony Blair, his aides insisted the trip be ‘fun’ rather than formal.

Mr Clinton wanted to be a ‘tourist’ in London, and to eat at an Indian restaurant, according to the files.

Discussing tea with the Queen, John Holmes, Mr Blair’s private secretary, wrote: ‘The White House were definitely not seeking a contact with the Palace.

'The Clintons would want the “fun” bit of the programme to be very informal.’

He added: ‘Unless the UK side signalled that the absence of a call there might cause offence, the White House would certainly not seek one.’

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