Earl Spencer: Let us see Diana's boys

The Royal family is trying to limit contact between Princes William and Harry and their mother's side of the family, Charles Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, said today,

Earl Spencer, who gave an emotional eulogy at the funeral of his sister five years ago, also said he had spoken to the Prince of Wales only once since then.

In an interview in the Guardian today, the Earl, who was named by Diana in her will as her children's guardian, declined to say how often he saw the princes but said: "What I can say is that they may not be encouraged to stay in touch with their mother's side of the family."

A spokesman for St James's Palace refused to comment saying: "We consider that to be a private family matter."

Relations between Earl Spencer and the palace have been frosty since his funeral speech at Westminster Abbey in which he pledged he would continue "the imaginative, loving way" his sister had been guiding "these two exceptional young men". He also pledged that the princes' "blood family" would try to prevent them from being "immersed by duty and tradition".

In today's interview, the earl also suggests he was tricked into allowing the young princes, then aged 15 and 12, to walk behind their mother's coffin. He said he had initially opposed the plans. He added: "I was told that they wanted to do it and that they would like it if I were there; I now know that's not true ... I thought that was where tradition and duty went too far against human nature."

He said he has spoken to Prince Charles only once since Diana's death. "I bumped into him in South Africa. He came to a reception in Cape Town and I was on Table 29 at the reception."

He believes Diana's legacy will mean William will be allowed to marry who he chooses. "I think he's got it in him to choose who he wants to marry. I don't think he'll be told," he said.

The earl said he still has nightmares about the funeral. "I can hear the bridles and all the metalwork on the horses and their hooves and the wailing of the crowd. I have never been in such a nightmarish place in my life."

He added that it was the last time he would speak publicly on the issues. He said: "I think the time has come for me to put a line under being the man who made the speech at his sister's funeral."