Princess Diana’s Close Friend Elton John Reveals She Was ‘a Real Gossip’ and ‘Incredibly Indiscreet'
The late Princess Diana, known for her quirky sense of humor and her many charitable endeavors, charmed many, including several celebrities, but none more iconic than singer Elton John. In a conversation with author Craig Brown, John reminisced about their first meeting at Prince Andrew’s 21st birthday party in 1981, describing Diana as a 'real gossip' and 'incredibly indiscreet,' yet delightful to be around. Their playful banter and candid conversations made their friendship unforgettable.
In his book, Q: A Voyage Around The Queen, Brown recounted Andrew’s 21st birthday party in 1981, when the late Queen Elizabeth hired John to perform. At the time, Diana was engaged to then-Prince Charles and attended the Windsor Castle bash, where she first met the singer. According to Brown, John shared, "The disco was turned down about as low as you could get without switching it off together. You could literally hear your feet moving around the floor over the music." Later, he recalled Princess Anne requesting him to dance to Elvis Presley’s Hound Dog. He added, "Well, I say dance: I ended up just awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot, trying to make as little noise as I could so that I didn’t drown out the music."
John went on to reveal that it was around this time that he encountered the late Princess. "I was trying to dance as inaudibly as possible with Princess Anne and The Queen — still holding her handbag — while what appeared to be the world’s quietest disco played Bill Haley. We [Diana] immediately clicked. We ended up pretending to dance the Charleston while hooting at the disco’s feebleness." The singer noted that Diana, at the time, was fabulous company, the best dinner party guest, and "incredibly indiscreet, a real gossip: you could ask her anything and she’d tell you."
In his autobiography, Me, John fondly described Diana's profound impact on those around her. "If I was bowled over by Diana, it was nothing compared with the impact she could have on straight men. They seemed completely to lose their minds in her presence: they were just utterly bewitched." Their friendship, marked by shared laughter and mutual support, was a testament to Diana's genuine and engaging personality. He added that her candid and fun personality made her a delightful company.
Diana and John's friendship was so pure that during her funeral in 1997, the singer delivered a sweet tribute by performing a rewritten version of his song Candle in the Wind, now known as Goodbye England's Rose. The song, specially tailored to honor Diana's life and legacy, became the best-selling single in UK and US chart history, with over 33 million copies sold globally. Proceeds from the hit were donated to Diana's charities via the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. John vowed never to perform the song again unless requested by Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, out of respect for her legacy.