Sir Elton John, the legendary singer-songwriter and longtime friend of Princess Diana, has once again captured public attention—this time not with a song, but with a heartfelt confession. After decades of silence surrounding some of the most intimate moments of their friendship, Elton has opened up about the deep bond he shared with Diana, revealing emotional truths and previously untold details that have stirred global interest.
Their friendship, which began in the early 1980s, was a unique and powerful connection between two of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century. Elton described their relationship as “instant,” noting Diana’s disarming warmth, mischievous sense of humor, and remarkable ability to connect with everyone—whether it was celebrities, hospital patients, or homeless youth. “She was fabulous company,” Elton once said. “The kind of person who made you feel better just by being around.”
In recent reflections, Elton admitted that while their public friendship appeared glamorous and effortless, it also came with strain and heartbreak. In a rare confession, he revealed that the pair had a falling out in early 1997 over a book project featuring photographs of AIDS victims—a cause close to both their hearts. Elton felt betrayed when Diana pulled out of writing the foreword under royal pressure. “It hurt, deeply,” he admitted, “because we were both committed to that cause.”
But just weeks later, the friendship was mended after the murder of their mutual friend, designer Gianni Versace. Diana reached out to Elton, offering a heartfelt apology and reconciliation. That phone call turned out to be one of their final conversations. Diana tragically died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, just six weeks after Versace's funeral.
Elton also spoke about the immense emotional toll of performing “Candle in the Wind 1997” at Diana’s funeral. The reworked version of his 1973 hit was tailored to honor Diana’s life, and the performance at Westminster Abbey was watched by over two billion people worldwide. Elton confessed that he was so overwhelmed with grief and pressure that he insisted on a teleprompter at the piano—fearing that if he faltered, he wouldn’t be able to recover. “That was the most difficult performance of my life,” he said. “I didn’t want it to be about me. It was for her.”
Elton's tribute single went on to become one of the best-selling songs of all time, but he has vowed never to perform it again, except in memory of Diana. “That song belongs to her now,” he stated.
In his more recent interviews and memoirs, Elton has also reflected on Diana’s growing isolation in her final years, and how the relentless pressure of royal life and media intrusion took a toll on her spirit. “She was constantly let down by those closest to her,” he revealed. “She trusted too easily and suffered because of it.”