PRINCESS Diana starts her new life as a divorced woman today with a celebratory lunch among dozens of young people.
At about the time the royal divorce is finalised with the issue of a decree absolute, she will be at the studios of English National Ballet, of which she is patron.
"It will be a happy occasion because the dancers will be back from their summer holiday and looking forward to the new season," said a company spokesman.
The fact that the Princess of Wales is going ahead with the visit will be widely seen as showing her determination to build a new life.
The ENB is the only arts organisation in Britain with which the princess retained her official links after she dropped much of her charity work at the time of the decree nisi six weeks ago.
The visit to the company's London headquarters and studios in South Kensington is expected to start around the time that the issue of the decree absolute is confirmed.
The official announcement of the ENB engagement referred not to "Her Royal Highness The "Princess of Wales" but to "Diana, Princess of Wales".
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that new guidelines for changes in royal titles after divorce are to be issued on the authority of Queen Elizabeth.
The entry in the London Gazette will give formal guidelines on general principles about dropping the style "Her Royal Highness" in the event of divorce.
