One play marking the first anniversary of Diana's death, The Flowers in the Park, pulls heartstrings unashamedly, portraying Diana in her popular image as patron saint of AIDS victims, the homeless, and other dispossessed.

A crying homosexual compares Diana's death to that of his boyfriend, while an unhappy housewife says: ``She made me feel loved.'' The only character to criticise the princess is heartless.

But while Flowers might catch the spirit of the mass grief that erupted after Diana's death in a car crash on August 31, a more irreverent approach has emerged in theatres -- and it is proving highly popular.

In Love upon the Throne, two British comics joke their way through the entire story of Diana and Prince Charles' `fairy tale-turns-to-divorce' marriage.

Risking the wrath of Diana's almost religiouslyfervent admirers, the two actors, both middle-aged men in grey suits, satirise everybody in the royal family from the Queen, Charles and Diana to their illicit lovers.

Unlike the poorly attended Flowers, this show attracts enthusiastic audiences numbering more than 250.

Diana is portrayed as a well-meaning but naive youngster who fights the boredom of living in a palace by throwing tantrums, jetting around the world, and carousing.

``This is more like it: nightclubs, dancing, champagne,'' the Diana character, played by John Ramm, enthuses in one scene.

The retelling of Diana's infidelity with army captain James Hewitt begins with this blunt invitation: ``I'm very keen to engage in a no-holds barred sexual relationship with you.... I'm a sexually assertive woman.''

The production by the veteran comic National Theatre of Brent was to have opened a year ago, but it had to be put on ice when Diana and her millionaire playboy lover Dodi Fayed were killed in a speeding Mercedes.

Even now, jokesabout Diana are still a potential mine field, even for the most provocative of comedians.

In Love upon the Throne, the story ends in the Diana-Charles divorce, steering clear of jokes about Diana's subsequent charity work, her relationship with Dodi, or, above all, her death.

To underline that the play is not intended to be tasteless or cruel, a touching scene is included showing Diana and Charles' children Harry and William discussing their parents' impending break-up.

Diana jokes are told at the Edinburgh Festival by stand-up comedians, including Timandra Harkness who said she jokes about the ``way in which we were expected to be very upset.''

But there are also limits. Comedian Richard Morton said he stopped doing his song Nobody Cried for Dodi after hearing ``horror stories'' from colleagues of poor audience reactions.

Chris Pettit, a college lecturer who watched Love upon the Throne, said that the Diana and Charles marriage, like the royal family in general, was dreammaterial for satirists.

However, the theatre was ``wise'' not to make jokes about Diana's life after divorce, he said. ``It could have been more hard hitting. It could have been quite savage.''

Anne Snelgrove, a civil servant who also watched the play, said comedy did not mean disrespect to the bereaved royal family. ``It sends up British attitudes, rather than the royal family. One actually feels sorry for the people involved.''

Outside the theatre in central Edinburgh, a couple of elderly Scottish women perused a wall of theatre posters, including advertisements for Love upon the Throne.

``I'll go as long as the jokes are funny,'' one said.