Prince Harry revealed in his memoir *Spare* that he asked Sir Elton John to perform *Candle in the Wind* at a tribute for his late mother, Princess Diana, but the singer declined. Instead, Sir Elton chose to sing *Your Song* at the 2007 event, explaining that *Candle in the Wind* would be too “macabre.” Sir Elton, a close friend of Diana, had famously performed a special version of *Candle in the Wind* at her funeral in 1997. The song was originally written as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe but was re-released in honor of Diana, with proceeds going to her charities.
Reflecting on the funeral, Harry wrote, “The funeral started with readings and eulogies and ended with Elton John… I have one clear memory of the music climaxing, my eyes stinging, and tears nearly dropping.” Elton John has continued his friendship with Diana’s sons, even defending Harry and Meghan in 2019 against media criticism regarding their use of private jets, saying he provided them for “protection” and offset carbon emissions. Harry also shared in an interview that his late mother would have been heartbroken by the rift between him and Prince William. He revealed in *Spare* that William once physically attacked him after calling Meghan “difficult,” “rude,” and “abrasive.”
