Madonna's Althorp marriage request

Officials at Althorp House, the final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales, have confirmed Madonna requested that she and fiance Guy Ritchie hold their wedding there.

The pop diva wrote to Earl Spencer a couple of months ago, Althorp spokesman David Fawkes confirmed.

"It is true we had a number of conversations with Madonna and we decided we could not provide the facilities she wanted," he said.

The star is now to marry in Scotland on 22 December.

---

Rembrandt painting 'to fetch millions'

A Rembrandt masterpiece is expected to raise a world record £6m when it goes under the hammer.

The oil painting - Portrait of a Lady, aged 62 - will form part of a sale of the collection of the late Baroness Batsheva de Rothschild at London auctioneers Christie's.

The oval portrait, unveiled on Monday, features an unidentified woman wearing a black costume with a cap and collar and is signed and dated 1632.

Christie's said the sale, on December 13 and 14, will break all world records for the artist's work if it hits £6m

---

Man held over Zappa 'threats'

A man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill the daughter of late rocker Frank Zappa because he thought they stole the lyrics of a song from him.

Timothy Mark Brownfields is said to have sent letters to the FBI threatening to kill Moon Unit Zappa.

Police say he believed the Zappas stole the lyrics to Val Girl, a 1982 song that satirized girls from the San Fernando Valley.

If convicted, Brownfields could face five years in a federal prison.

---

Honour for Carreras

Opera singer Jose Carreras has received an honorary degree in recognition of his contributions to music and cancer charity work.

Carreras, who formed the Three Tenors with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, was made an honorary Doctor of Arts at Napier University in Edinburgh.

The singer became a prominent supporter of cancer research after recovering from leukaemia.