Part of a double-A-side single made in 1997 by Elton John alongside Something About The Way You Look Tonight. “Candle in the Wind 1997” (sometimes called “Goodbye England’s Rose”) is a re-written and re-recorded version of the song made in 1973 for his double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Whereas the original was a tribute to Norma Jeane, aka famous 1950s actress Marilyn Monroe, this version is a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died in a tragic car crash in Paris, France earlier that year. As such, several lyrics in this version are different compared to the original in order to better reflect how he and the world saw Diana as opposed to Marilyn.

This version of the song became the fourth #1 single in the UK for Elton John, and was also the fastest-selling single in the UK as well as the best-selling single in the UK and (eventually) the whole world, selling over 33 million copies worldwide. It was never released on any other album, compilation or otherwise, and was only performed live once at Diana’s funeral in Westminster Abbey on 6 September 1997.

All the money earned from the song was donated towards Princess Diana’s charities.