Clergyman pleaded with Buckingham palace to let Elton John sing at Diana's funeral
December 30, 2021, 9:33 am

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

Elton John/Official Facebook page

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.

Princess Diana-Prince of Wales/Facebook page

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, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.