Madonna initially wanted to wed at Diana's family home

LONDON (AP) _ Madonna initially wanted to hold her wedding at the estate where Princess Diana is buried, but logistics proved too difficult, the estate's spokesman said Monday. <br><br>The singer,

Monday, December 11th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LONDON (AP) _ Madonna initially wanted to hold her wedding at the estate where Princess Diana is buried, but logistics proved too difficult, the estate's spokesman said Monday.

The singer, who is expected to marry British director Guy Ritchie on Dec. 22 in Scotland, wrote to Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, a few months ago to ask if she could marry at Althorp House, spokesman David Fawkes said.

Despite lengthy negotiations, it finally was agreed by mutual consent not to have the wedding there, primarily because Althorp House was unable to provide the facilities Madonna wanted, Fawkes said.

``It is not true to say Earl Spencer rejected the star _ only that we could not provide the facilities,'' Fawkes said.

Madonna's spokeswoman was not available for comment.

The singer has not commented publicly on any wedding plans, but a Scottish registrar's office last week listed Madonna and Ritchie's names on a roster of planned local marriages, as required by law.

The British media have speculated that the couple, who have a 3-month-old son, Rocco, will marry either at the 13th-century Dornoch Cathedral or exclusive Skibo Castle near the Scottish coastal town of Dornoch.

Althorp House, where Diana is buried on an island, is open to the public for two months each summer. Visitors are not able to visit Diana's gravesite, but her brother created an exhibition in her memory that is open to the public.