From Princess Diana’s funeral, many people especially remember the moment when Sir Elton John sang the adapted version of his song ‘Candle in the wind’. But according to archival documents that have just been released, the Palace was not in favor of this.
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Buckingham Palace would have found the text too sentimental. An early draft of the program states that Elton John would be singing another song, “Your Song.”
The Dean of Westminster pleaded for ‘Candle in the wind’ in a personal letter to the Palace. He felt a “bold” choice was needed at that point in time during the celebration, pointing out that the song “is being played and sung all over the country in memory of Diana.”
The dean suggested not to print the text if it was found to be too sentimental. A saxophonist would have been ready to perform the song as an instrumental if necessary.
The original version of the song is about Marilyn Monroe’s life, but Elton John’s regular lyricist Bernie Taupin had rewritten the words. For example, ‘Goodbye Norma Jean’ was changed to ‘Goodbye England’s rose’.
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