London- Known for not mincing his words, British Prince Philip, husband to Queen Elizabeth II, told government representatives to "fuck off" after the death of Princess Diana in 1997, a new book revealed Saturday.

The book Tony's Ten Years: Memoirs of the Blair Administration by TV journalist Adam Boulton reports that the royal family was incensed about Downing Street's response to the death and their micro- management of the funeral.

"The events of that week in September 1997 were very sad, but as the spinners from Downing Street came to Buckingham Palace and started to kick around what roles Harry and William should play in the funeral, the Queen had relished the moment when Philip had bellowed over the speakerphone from Balmoral: 'Fuck off. We are talking about two boys who have lost their mother'," Boulton reports.

The book sheds a different light on the royal family which was criticized for not showing enough emotion after the accident, while then Prime Minister Tony Blair was in favour of a large funeral.

The funeral celebrations in Westminster Abbey were broadcast live and watched by millions of people worldwide.

Boulton is among the most well-known journalists in Britain. His revelations are regarded as incisive also because his wife is a leading aide of Tony Blair. The book is due tio be published in October. (dpa)