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Clergyman pleaded with Buckingham palace to let Elton John sing at Diana's funeral

The BBC reported that released files reveal, the Dean of Westminster personally appealed to Buckingham Palace to ensure Sir Elton John performed at Princess Diana's funeral.
The Very Rev Wesley Carr wrote that doing so would be "imaginative and generous" to the millions feeling "personally bereaved".
Sir Elton, who was a friend of Diana's, performed a reworked version of Candle In The Wind at the service in 1997.
But papers from the National Archives suggest a backup plan was in place.
Sir Elton's lyricist Bernie Taupin had just rewritten the song about Marilyn Monroe - Candle In The Wind - with new lyrics about Princess Diana, retitled England's Rose.

In a note to a senior member of the royal household, Dean Wesley Carr wrote that the song was being played "all the time" on the radio.
The dean recognised it would be unconventional, but urged "boldness", and the "inclusion of something of the modern world that the princess represented".
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Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997.
Her death prompted an unprecedented outpouring of public grief, with hundreds of thousands of bouquets left at her Kensington Palace home.
Many were angry about what they saw as the indifference of the Royal Family towards the princess, after she had divorced Prince Charles and relinquished her HRH royal title.
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At the time, Dean Carr - who took part in negotiations over the service between the palace and Princess Diana's family - said being involved in her funeral was the biggest thing he had ever done.
He saw it as a "rare opportunity for the abbey to bring together pageantry, history and the common touch".
The files show he saw Sir Elton as an essential part of that combination.
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The abbey had arranged for a young saxophonist to be on standby to deliver a poignant solo, although the dean described this as "a very second best shot".
He added that if the words of England's Rose were thought "too sentimental" then he would suggest they were not printed in the funeral's order of service.
But he thought such sentiment appropriate given the public mood.
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Dean Carr, who died in 2017 and was described as "fearless" in his obituary, told a senior member of the royal household, Lt Col Malcolm Ross, that he was ready to "discuss the significance of this suggestion over the phone with anyone".
The files don't show whether that happened.
Lt Col Ross wrote later that he was unable to influence the choice of soloist, and had had to turn down opera singer Plácido Domingo when he offered to sing at the funeral.
Sir Elton's performance was one of the most memorable moments in the funeral, which was watched by hundreds of millions around the world.
England's Rose went on to sell 33 million copies worldwide.
Source: BBC
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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