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Elton John says Prince Harry has Diana's ability to 'walk into a room and disarm people straight away'

‘He reminded me so much of Diana’

Olivia Petter
Monday 14 October 2019 11:55 BST
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(Rex Features)

Sir Elton John has said he feels particularly fond of the Duke of Sussex because he reminds him of the royal's late mother, Princess Diana, with whom the musician was close friends.

“We’ve worked together on numerous occasions, been to the International Aids Conference together, and while we’re not in each other’s back pockets, I have a certain feeling for him because he reminded me so much of Diana,” the “Tiny Dancer” singer told British GQ.

“I love the fact that he would walk into a room and disarm people straight away, which in all my life I’ve only seen about two or three people able to do. One was Bill Clinton, one was Princess Diana and the other is Harry.”

The musician went on to recall the “incredibly inhuman” sight of the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Diana’s funeral when they were aged 15 and 12, respectively.

“I think what they had to go through with the funeral was terrible,” he said.

“I’ll never forget the funeral and seeing those boys having to walk behind the coffin for 45 minutes,” Elton continued. “I thought it was slightly inhuman, well, not slightly, incredibly.”

In August, the “Rocketman” singer made headlines for publicly condemning the media’s criticism of Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex after they took two private jet trips in one week.

Elton tweeted that he found the negative media coverage “distorted and malicious”, adding that he felt a “profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death".

Speaking to GQ, the singer explained that he doesn’t see the royal couple “very often” before adding: “but I’m there for them. I completely support [Harry’s] views”

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