Diana, Princess of Wales was, famously, friends with Sir Elton John, who recently tweeted “Miss you so much” alongside a picture of himself with Diana. Sir Elton’s autobiography ‘Me’, which was released this week, contains a number of anecdotes about the princess, including how they first met at Prince Andrew’s 21st birthday party, and their eventual falling-out, before they reunited in 1997. However, it comes in contrast to the singer’s feelings in 1997, when he issued a press release stating that he would not talk about his friend the princess again. 

Sir Elton appeared on US talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1997, following the release of his single ‘Candle in the Wind 97’ after he sang the song in Westminster Abbey at his friend Diana’s funeral. 

Ms Winfrey, introduced her guest, said: “Elton John has issued a press release, and I have nothing but respect for him for doing so, saying that he didn’t want to talk about it any more because he feels that a lot of people have tried to exploit it. 

“I’ve said to him, we’re not going to spend a lot of time talking about it.” 

She asked the star: “Aren’t you now tired of people interviewing people who knew Diana for four minutes?” 

Elton agreed and said, with the death of both Diana and their friend Gianni Versace that summer, it had been “unbelievable”. 

He said: “These two deaths were very sudden and were quite unnecessary really. 

He told the talkshow host how he had been coping, saying: “I’ve talked about it all summer with friends. 

“We had Gianni’s partner Antonio down, and we had people there to cheer him up. 

“There are bad moments and there are good moments.” 

He also said how he had a particular track he listened to, by singer/songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, adding: “I’ve been listening to that to cope with my grief. 

“I just sit the in the car and I cry.” 

The star’s autobiography also gives his opinion that he though the “mourning got out of hand” in the aftermath of the Princess’ death, which also stands in contrast to his feelings in 1997. 

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Talking to Ms Winfrey, Elton said: “I think it’s brilliant. 

“The thing that really impressed me most of all in England when the tragedy happened were the public. 

“Their dignity, their sorrow, the way they showed their grief, their silence. 

Ms Winfrey asked: “Unusual, the rest of the world said, for the Brits to be so demonstrative?” 

Sir Elton replied: “Yes, and I think it was a great thing that they were.” 

The singer also spoke about how he manage to perform the song at the funeral of his friend, in front of the mourning nation. 

He said: “I switched off – I had to 

“I had a teleprompter, because I thought, if I am going to sing this song and I suddenly sing ‘Goodbye Norma Jeane’, I am going to look such an idiot. 

He added: I wanted to sing it beautifully for her. 

“I wanted to sing it beautifully for the public, and for the family.” 

“You just have to grit your teeth, and do it properly. 

“I broke down when I watched the funeral when I got home.” 

Sir Elton has continued to be close to Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. 

This summer, he and his husband David Furnish hosted Harry and Meghan Markle, with baby Archie, at their home in the South of France. 

At the London premiere of the Lion King this July, Sir Elton’s closeness with the Duchess of Sussex was demonstrated as he was seen to whisper some words in her ear – although it remains a mystery as to what he might have said. 

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