Diana’s funeral was one of the most heartful and emotional events in royal family history and without a doubt, Elton John’s performance at Westminster Abbey is unforgettable, however, not everyone was happy with this decision.
Governments’ documents that were released by the end of December by the British National Archives, showed that Buckingham Palace didn’t want Elton John, a close friend of Princess Diana, to perform at her funeral, but the then dean of the Abbey appealed.
According to these documents, senior members of the royal household were against Elton John’s performance because they believed “Candle in the Wind” lyrics were “too sentimental for the occasion”.
However, it was the Very Rev. Dr. Wesley Carr, Dean of the Westminster Abbey at the time, who personally appealed, arguing that the performance captured the feeling of the people around the world.
“This is a crucial point in the service and we would urge boldness. It is where the unexpected happens and something of the modern world that the princess represented,” wrote Carr in a letter addressed to an unknown member of the royal household.
And he continued to suggest “respectfully” that anything classical or choral “was inappropriate”.
Elton John performed at Diana’s funeral on September 6th, 1997 where he sang a reworked version of “Candle in the Wind” that was originally written in memory of Marilyn Monroe. The singer and his lyricist Bernie Taupin changed the first line of the song from “Goodbye, Norma Jean” (Monroe’s real name) to “Goodbye, England’s rose.” Later, the new version of the song became a worldwide hit.