Photographer Reveals How Elton John Helped Ease 'Tensions' at Diana’s Funeral: ‘There Was Anger’
A firsthand account reveals the tense atmosphere at Diana’s funeral and how Elton John’s performance became the moment that changed everything.
Princess Diana’s funeral became a moment etched in tragedy, which not only made people mourn but also angered them. The heartbreaking day was recalled by one of the photographers who was a witness to the events that unfolded on that fateful day. Dafydd Jones spoke about the historic moment to People while talking about his photos of Elton John from Elton John: Icon. He said, “It felt as if England had gone a bit mad. There was a surge of national mourning.”
To cover the funeral, Jones got there the night before just to secure a good spot. While the overwhelming feeling was grief, he remembers the atmosphere being more complicated than that. There was a noticeable tension in the air, especially toward the royal family. “There was a lot of anger with the royal family, who were considered cold and to have treated Diana badly,” he recalled.
Furthermore, the photographer also recalled how people had camped outside Westminster Abbey all night, just to be part of the moment. At one point after midnight, a van from an Indian restaurant even showed up and started handing out free food, which gave the whole thing a rather communal atmosphere. By the time morning rolled around, guests began arriving for the funeral, while some also decided to skip it intentionally. But Jones did notice that a few people who did attend were hanging around a bit too long for the cameras. He revealed, “The noticeable offenders were the political attendees such as Nancy Reagan and Tony and Cherie Blair.”
One moment that really stuck with Jones was seeing the procession come through with Prince William and Prince Harry walking alongside their uncle, Charles Spencer, and their father, King Charles. For him, that was when the reality of it all really hit. He said, “It was shocking to see those young boys walking behind their mother's coffin through central London. At the time, I thought the royals made the boys do it to gain some public sympathy. It was a ruthless move.”
Jones then turned to the moment that ended up defining the whole day: When Elton John, the late Princess' close friend, performed Candle in the Wind. He described the song as having suddenly removed all the anger from the air, saying, “There were cheers outside when Earl Spencer made his incendiary eulogy. Elton's song ‘Candle in the Wind' was the sound of the day. A moment when music transcended the mood and brought everyone together.”
The song had actually been reworked for the occasion, with his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin rewriting the lyrics to honor Princess Diana. Originally written about Marilyn Monroe, the famous opening line was changed from “Goodbye Norma Jean” to “Goodbye England’s Rose.” John singing the track was indeed one of the most memorable aspects of the day.
