The Princess Diaries
A DI TO REMEMBER. MARION McMULLEN RECALLS MEMORIES OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 60TH BIRTHDAY
SINGER George Michael once said: “Diana was the only person that I knew who made me feel like an ordinary person. That’s what I thought was so amazing about her.”
There was only two years age difference between the late Wham! star and the royal and he said: “I thought she was so great not to be consumed by everything that had happened to her and to keep giving and giving. I thought she was a really great person – the Elvis of compassion.”
Lady Diana Spencer was born 60 years ago on July 1, 1961, and a billion people across the world watched her wedding to Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral in London in 1981. The mother of Prince Harry and Prince William later tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
Sir Elton John was a life-long friend and the pair are said to have bonded over a Charleston on the dance floor in 1981 when the singing star was performing at Prince Andrew’s 21st birthday.
Sir Elton and Diana shared a passion for raising awareness of Aids, and he changed the lyrics to his hit Candle In The Wind when he performed it at her funeral in 1997. The song tapped into the nation’s grief and Sir Richard Branson said he helped Sir Elton produce the amended version.
“I was partly responsible for the biggest-selling single in history,” said the Virgin billionaire. “I had been close to Princess Diana and when she died I decided to raise as much money as possible for her charities by putting out an album in her memory.
“I rang Elton John and asked if he and his writer, Bernie Taupin, could alter the lyrics of Candle In The Wind – he agreed. I then tried to get permission for him to play it at the service. Initially, the Royal Court was against it but with the help of Tony Blair and the archbishop, we persuaded them. And the rest, as they say, is history.”
Sir Elton also paid a heartfelt tribute to Princess Diana on the 20th anniversary of her death saying “the world lost an angel”.
David Emanuel helped design
Princess Diana’s extravagant ballgown-style wedding dress featuring ivory silk taffeta, antique lace and a 25ft train.
He said: “Diana was such a joy to work with. I delivered the gown to Clarence House and when I got there, there were all the corgis for the Queen Mother and we were given a private bedroom for Diana and we kept the bridesmaids in a separate bedroom. What was fun was, in the morning, Diana on her dressing room table had the television on and we could see all of the bands, and then we looked out of the window and going down the mall were the bands.
“It was a very special time. She had a lot of energy and a lot of fun, and that’s what I miss. If people remember anything, just remember she gave a lot of happiness to people and was a lot of fun.”
Shoe designer Jimmy Choo said Princess Diana was also instrumental in helping to boost his career. “Whenever she travelled to different parts of the world, she would call me and say ‘Oh, Jimmy, can you design a range for me? I’m travelling to Japan, India… my birthday is coming up, can you design something for me?’”
And, as word got out, he says, there was more demand: “So people said, ‘Oh, I must also ask Jimmy to design something for me’. So, it’s thanks to Princess Diana for giving me this opportunity.”
He said: “The first time I went to see her in Kensington Palace by myself, it was to talk to her about designs for visiting different countries. The lady in waiting asked her, ‘Do you want me to stay with you?’ She said ‘No, no I’m comfortable with Jimmy here’. We had a trust.”
Hollywood film star John Travolta famously danced with the People’s Princess at the White House in 1985. “Princess Diana was a nice dancer because she had confidence,” he said. “In fact, when we danced together she started to lead and I looked her in the eye and went ‘No, you have to let me lead’ so I grabbed her around the waist and we were off to the races.”
Hi-De-Hi’s Su Pollard also remembers dancing with the princess. “At a 10 Downing Street reception, I tap-danced with Princess Diana because she’d just started learning some steps and we hugged afterwards.”
Dancer Wayne Sleep , who taught Diana ballet, remembers he was asleep at his home in London when news came through that his friend had died. He said: “My PR banged on my door at 5am. When she said ‘Diana’s gone’ I couldn’t take it in. A year later I started my foundation in her memory which still helps students.”