Princess Diana’s death: Monarchy mutiny?

The night turned cold. The lines were now 11 hours long.

The throngs waiting to sign condolence books for Princess Di were getting tired, restless and cranky.

A light rain made candles flicker. Flowers were fermenting.

Children whimpered in woolen blankets.

But still they came.

And then they started getting angry. Where was the queen? Why wasn’t she in London with her grieving people? Why no public pronouncement about Diana’s death from the royal family? Why no word from Prince Charles? Why was the flag over Buckingham Palace not at half-staff?

And then came a royal peep.

The royal response: The public was giving Charles and his sons strength because of their overwhelming grief. Prince Charles even dispatched flowers to Diana’s charities.

But was it enough for a public teetering on monarchial mutiny?

“Let’s put it this way,” said a woman outside Kensington Palace.

“I’m fed up with the royal family. They are out of touch. But if you want to know what member of that family was more like us, consider this: It was Diana who took the boys for a Big Mac.”

Postcards from London . . .

Salutations from the capital of the queen of hearts.

Did Dodi buy Di a $1.6 million ring? Did he purchase it next door to the Ritz Hotel? Were bits and pieces of it found in the car? Questions. Questions.

It’s no secret the British press is having a field day with the heart murmurs of Dodi and Di. But a little extra spice was added to my English breakfast tea when I read quotes from a close Dodi relative claiming the couple were on the brink of disclosing they were getting married. (I then diluted my tea with cream.)

Saudi millionaire Hasson Yassin said that less than four hours before the crash, Dodi said, “It’s serious. We’re going to get married. You’ll hear it very soon.” And was Di planning to tell the royal family the day she was killed? More questions.

Please note: Di’s family has reported no such plans.

The female factor . . .

Prince Charles not only had reportedly sent Diana a recent note beginning “My Dearest Diana,” and ending “lots of love,” but Di’s close reporter pal, Richard Kay, claims Charles and his lover, Camilla Parker Bowles, hadn’t been together for more than a month.

Oh, well.

The Crawford factor . . .

Supermodel Cindy Crawford says she got a call from Diana 24 hours before her death telling her: “For the first time in my life I can say that I’m truly happy.”

A macabre memo . . .

A Palestinian named Al-Hindi has offered $1 million for the wreck of the crushed Mercedes, Diana’s death car. He says he wants to turn the car into a memorial for the princess. Yeah, sure.

A Rees piece . . .

Bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones, whose face was crushed in the crash, is being tended by his wife, Susan, who confirmed that she has been separated from her husband for the last several months.

The Fergie factor . . .

Fergie, the duchess of York, not only has been uncommonly quiet since Diana’s death, but is in seclusion comforting her children along with ex-hubby Prince Andrew. (The two are very tight.)

Music notes . . .

Singer Elton John, along with tenor Luciano Pavarotti and singer Sting, have been invited to the funeral. Pavarotti nixed an invitation to sing for fear of crying. “I cry every day since her death,” said Pavarotti. It is not 100 percent certain John will sing, although speculation is he will sing Di’s favorite tune: “This Song’s for You.” It is also rumored that Sting will sing “I’ll Be Missing You.”

Heart murmurs . . .

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives in London late Friday, will overnight on her plane and leave immediately after the funeral Saturday. Chelsea is not going. . . . Sneedless to say, it seems ironic that the paparazzo who is charged with not helping Diana, crawling all over the car to get a picture of the dying Di and taking her pulse, has the last name of Rat.

Last but not least . . .

It was an American tourist who was first to summon help to the crash scene. It made me kind of proud.