Prince Harry's heartbreaking plea to top star - he had 'no choice but to refuse'

requested to sing Candle in the Wind on the anniversary of passing, but the singer turned him down, as revealed in Harry's memoir, Spare. Instead, Sir Elton opted to perform Your Song, deeming Candle in the Wind too "macabre" for the occasion.

Sir Elton, a close friend of Diana's, had previously performed a revised version of Candle in the Wind at her funeral on 6 September 1997. The song, originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, was re-released as a single in Diana's honour, with all proceeds going to her charities.

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Since Diana's death, has remained close to her sons, even defending Harry and Meghan against "relentless and untrue assassinations on their characters" in 2019. This came after the couple faced criticism for using private jets, including one provided by Sir Elton to his villa in Nice, despite their environmental advocacy.

Sir Elton later revealed that he had paid for a flight for the couple and their son Archie to ensure their protection and had offset the carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Harry expressed his belief that his late mother, Princess Diana, would be saddened by his strained relationship with his older brother, .

In a bombshell interview on Good Morning America, laid bare the depths of his strained relationship with his brother, Prince William. He expressed fears that their late mother would be heartbroken over their feud, especially given the close bond they once shared in their youth.

The rift between the royal siblings has been under intense media spotlight, and it's becoming clear that their previously strong relationship is now precariously fraying. In his explosive memoir, Harry recounts a fierce argument concerning which led to a physical altercation with William.

Harry alleges that William called Meghan "difficult", "rude", and "abrasive" – echoing negative media portrayals.

During a candid conversation with Tom Bradby, Prince Harry hinted at the complexity of the situation, pointing out that until now, the narrative has largely been controlled by the . As Harry opened up to Tom, he revealed the "red mist" he saw in William during their heated clash at his home.

Following the release of his book, Harry's detailed accounts of encounters with Taliban fighters have stirred up a storm, with a past Defence Secretary slamming them as completely inappropriate.

The Telegraph highlighted Prince Harry's controversial remarks where he likened the lives lost to "chess pieces" taken off the board, a move that has been criticised for its impersonal tone towards human life.

The penned in his memoir, "So, my number is 25. It's not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me," Former Defence Secretary John Hutton, who also chaired the defence think tank RUSI, slammed the comments as a "very serious mistake".

Speaking to LBC News, the Labour peer expressed his disapproval: "It's absolutely not the right thing for anyone to be saying, and I'm sure he now bitterly regrets saying that. I think it diminishes him, and I think it's not what we expect from someone who has held the positions of authority and responsibility that he has previously occupied."

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