‘The world lost an angel’... Sir Elton leads tributes to Diana
SIR Elton John led the tributes to Princess Diana yesterday as fans turned the gates of Kensington Palace into a colourful sea of memorials for the 20th anniversary of her death.
The pop superstar, 70, posted a picture on Instagram of himself with Diana and wrote: “20 years ago today, the world lost an angel. RIP.”
Sir Elton, who performed a special version of his hit Candle In The Wind for Diana’s funeral, was among several members of her friendship circle to mark the anniversary.
Businesswoman Rosa Monckton called Diana – godmother to her daughter Domenica Lawson – a “truly extraordinary woman”.
She added: “She was everything to everybody. She broke down the walls.
“She busted the myth of being a fairytale princess.”
Ballet legend Wayne Sleep, who famously danced with Diana to Billy Joel’s hit Uptown Girl at a Royal Opera House Christmas concert in 1985, said he wished he had done more for her.
The 69-year-old spoke to guests at a Diana remembrance service at Mildmay Mission Aids hospital, in east London. He said: “I never realised how close I was to her until she died.”
Joy
Fashion designer Elizabeth Emanuel posted a picture of herself and former husband David with Diana at St Paul’s Cathedral, adjusting the train on the wedding dress they made for her.
She said: “Thinking of the wonderful times we spent with Diana and the great joy she brought into our lives.”
Meanwhile, thousands of people converged at Kensington Palace from all over the world to honour Diana with bouquets, cards, photographs, candles, ribbons and notes.
Fans laid out a spectacular floral centrepiece at the gates, with Diana’s name spelt out in 12-inch letters made of white carnations and pink roses.
The group also brought along an enormous cake, topped with a picture of the Princess, which they served out in 100 portions.
Organiser Terry Hatt, 82, of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, said: “We wanted to do this today to show that she will never, ever be forgotten.”
Trish Hoskin, a self-styled Diana superfan, spent £3,000 travelling from her home in Australia to lay flowers but insisted: “It has been worth every penny.”
The 56-year-old software developer added: “I couldn’t come back in 1997 and I have always regretted it.”
Evelyn Marie Seidel, 68, who runs the Lady Di Club Germany, flew in from her home in Holzminden, Lower Saxony, to pay her respects with a handmade card.
She said: “I think maybe Diana is even more popular in Germany than she was in the UK.” In Paris, mourners laid flowers at the site of the car accident where, alongside her lover Dodi Fayed, Diana sustained fatal injuries on August 31, 1997.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo laid the first bouquet at the Alma Tunnel.
Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, were understood to have spent the day at home in quiet reflection.