ARGENTINA: BRITAIN'S PRINCESS DIANA VISIT

(24 Nov 1995) English/Nat

British Princess Diana's four-day trip to Argentina has become a media circus after her frank interview on the B-B-C in which she admitted adultery.

Any lingering hostility towards Britain over the Falklands War that some feared would mar the trip was not in evidence as small crowds tried to catch a glimpse of the princess.

But press photographers and reporters outnumbered Argentines on Diana's first outing, to an infant paralysis centre in Buenos Aires.

Fears of a hostile reception in Argentina were swept aside as crowds leant from balconies and lined the streets in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Princess Diana.

Her four-day trip to Argentina comes just days after her explosive television interview in which she admitted to adultery and chronicled the decline of her marriage.

The interview was also an opportunity for the princess to stake out her ambition to maintain a public royal role - even if her estranged husband, the Prince of Wales, asks for a divorce.

Diana admitted that she coveted a role as a roving ambassador and - as she put it - the queen of people's hearts.

Almost as soon as she touched down in Buenos Aires, she turned her words into deeds as she headed for the Association for the Struggle Against Infant Paralysis (ALPI).

She looked cool and relaxed in the Argentine sunshine, despite the furore she left behind in Britain over her B-B-C TV interview.

There also had been fears that because Britain and Argentina went to war over the Falkland Islands nearly 13 years ago, she would be given a frosty reception.

However, people lined the street on the way to the centre.

Inside the centre, Diana did what she claims she does best - dispense a little affection to the sick children.

It was vintage Diana - stroking children's hair, smiling and listening attentively.

Outside, the crowd was not large enough to suggest that Diana has yet won over the hearts of all the Argentine people.

A poll released Wednesday said 76 percent of Argentines think Diana's visit would do little or nothing to further goodwill between the two former foes.

But those who had come to see her, seemed pleased with the spectacle.

VOXPOP:
"Well, I came to see Diana, she's the most beautiful wo...she's the most beautiful girl in the world and we appreciate that she came to our country. We think that this is - for the future - very good."
SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Mulki

VOXPOP
"It's a symbol - a woman's symbol - not only for the monarchists but for all the women.."
SUPER CAPTION: George Novali

But the curious onlookers were almost outnumbered by the more than 350 photographers and reporters who are following Princess Diana on her tour.

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