Andrew Morton claims reliable sources

England have

A controversial new book about the Princess of Wales claims she attempted suicide on several occasions over the last decade, and portrays her as a deeply depressed and unstable character.

Author Andrew Morton insists he has reliable sources for the allegations, which appear in Diana: Her True Story.

Buckingham Palace would not comment on any specific claims, and said Princess Diana did not co-operate with the biography in any way whatsoever.

The Princess has begun another full week of engagements, attending the annual Order of the Garter service with other members of the royal family at Windsor on the eve of the book's publication.

Although she appeared composed at this event, she was seen breaking down in tears at another public engagement in Liverpool last week.

Speaking for the first time since details of the book became known, Mr Morton said: "The tears that she has shed in public in Liverpool are nothing compared to the tears she has shed over the last year.

"I can't emphasise strongly enough the volatility of the situation inside Kensington Palace".

The book alleges that Princess Diana tried to kill herself on as many as five occasions during the 1980s.

"It is what the Princess of Wales has told her friends." Andrew Morton said.

Mr Morton rejected suggestions that the revelations were based on rumour and gossip, and said he had interviewed a number of sources close to the princess who had insisted on anonymity.

"It is nothearsay. It is what the Princess of Wales has told her friends about what happened to her in 1982, in the early 80s, and the last suicide attempt I think was in 1986."

The author also denied he had any ulterior motivation in making the disclosures.

He said: "My job is as a biographer, not as someone who is organising or orchestrating the future of the royal family".

Valentina from the Soviet Union has become the first woman in space

Lieutenant Valentina Tereshkova, 26, was the fifth Russian cosmonaut to go into the Earth's orbit when her spaceship Vostok VI was launched at 1230 Moscow time.

Moscow Television broadcast the first pictures of the elated blonde - code-named Seagull - ninety minutes later.

One of the main purposes of her mission is to attempt the first docking manoeuvre with another spaceship.

Colonel Valery Bykovsky was completing his 32nd orbit in the Vostok V - launched two days ago - when Lt Tereshkova hurtled into space from the secret Russian launch pad in Baikonur, central Asia.

At one time the two spacecrafts - which were in radio contact with each other as well as the ground - were only three miles apart, but they are reported to be drifting further apart.

Khrushchev's acclaim

Russian Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev had a radio conversation with the female cosmonaut.

He congratulated her on her achievement and spoke of his "fatherly pride" for her.

By 2000 BST Ms Tereshkova had completed 23 circuits of the globe - one more than the longest-flying US spaceman, Gordon Cooper - at a distance of between 114 miles (183km) and 145 miles (232km) with an average 88.3 minutes for each orbit.

Thousands of jubilant women gathered in Red Square, Moscow, to celebrate the occasion.

A special issue of Soviet newspaper Pravda said Ms Tereshkova had dreamed of going into space as soon as she heard about the first man in space, Colonel Yuri Gagarin, in April 1961.

Ms Tereshkova - an amateur parachutist - joined the space programme last March.

Col Gagarin said she was popular with the other cosmonauts and their wives and described her "kind eyes and good-natured smile".

Russian scientists also hope to analyse the comparative effects of space travel on a man and a woman.

hearsay: information heard from others （谣言；传闻）

elated:exultantly proud and （兴高采烈的；得意洋洋的）

docking:(astronautics) the coming together and joining of two space vehicles（<宇宙飞行器在轨道上>对接）