Prince Harry requested Elton John to perform Candle in the Wind for his mother's death anniversary, but the musician declined , as per the prince's account.
Instead, Sir Elton opted to play Your Song at Diana's death anniversary, stating that Candle in the Wind would be overly "macabre", according to Harry's explosive memoir , Spare.
The singer, a close friend of Harry's mother, performed a revised version of Candle in the Wind at Princess Diana's funeral on 6 September 1997.
Originally penned in 1973 by Sir Elton and Bernie Taupin as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who passed away 11 years prior, the updated version was released as a single in honour of Diana, with all global proceeds donated to the late princess's charities. Sir Elton has maintained a close relationship with Diana's sons following her passing, defending Harry and Meghan against "relentless and untrue assassinations on their characters" in 2019.
This defence followed criticisms that the couple had utilized private jets, including one provided by Sir Elton to his villa in Nice, despite their vocal stance on environmental issues. Sir Elton John disclosed that he had funded a flight for them and their son Archie to "maintain a high level of much-needed protection" and offset the carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry confessed that he believes his late mother, Princess Diana, would be upset about his strained relationship with his elder brother , Prince William.
In a sneak peek shared by Good Morning America, Prince Harry has opened up about the deep divide with his brother William, suggesting that their late mother would be heartbroken by the situation, given their once close-knit bond during their youth. The brothers' relationship has been the subject of intense speculation, with reports suggesting they've been at odds, their bond now seemingly hanging by a mere thread.
In his explosive memoir, Prince Harry alleges that an argument over Meghan led to William physically assaulting him at his home.
Harry recounts that William described Meghan as "difficult", "rude", and "abrasive", to which Harry retorted that William was simply echoing media portrayals. During a candid ITV interview with Tom Bradby, the Duke of Sussex emphasised that every story has two sides, hinting at a narrative dominated by the Royal family until now.
The Duke is captured in conversation with the journalist, discussing the "red mist" he perceived in Prince William during the alleged physical confrontation at Harry's residence. Following the release of his book, Harry's remarks regarding Taliban fighters have come under fire, labelled as " wrong on every level " by a former Defence Secretary.
The Telegraph highlighted Harry's comments where he likened the individuals he killed to "chess pieces" removed from the game, rather than people.
"So, my number is 25. It's not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me," he penned down. John Hutton, former Defence Secretary under Gordon Brown and past chairman of defence think tank RUSI, labelled it a "very serious mistake".
Speaking to LBC News, the Labour peer expressed: "It's absolutely not the right thing for anyone to be saying, and I'm sure he now bitterly regrets saying that. I think it diminishes him, and I think it's not what we expect from someone who has held the positions of authority and responsibility that he has previously occupied."
For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .
Local News
