Pale and red-eyed, Elton feared he would not make it through the performance without breaking down. Yet his delivery inside Westminster Abbey was both disciplined and unforgettable — a moment that brought the world to tears. Immediately after the service, Elton went straight into the studio to record the new version as a charity single, with proceeds directed to The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, supporting causes close to her heart.
The song became an unprecedented success, soaring to the top of the UK charts within 24 hours and quickly becoming the best-selling single in the nation’s history.
“I will never sing it again,” Elton later said. “It’s hers.”