Despite the warm words, Jackson admitted he felt extremely nervous meeting Diana, something evident in photographs from the evening. Part of the awkwardness stemmed from his decision to remove “Dirty Diana” from the setlist, fearing the song’s subject matter might offend her.
“I took it out of the show in honor of Her Royal Highness,” he told Walters.
Diana’s Unexpected Response
Diana, however, was unimpressed by the omission. During their pre-show meeting, she asked Jackson whether he planned to perform “Dirty Diana.” When he explained why he had removed it, she insisted he sing it anyway. In the end, he did.
Jackson later spoke warmly of her, saying, “I thought the princess was just wonderful.”
Aware of how devoted Diana was to her children, he also gifted her two miniature tour jackets for Princes William and Harry. Throughout the concert, Diana reportedly danced enthusiastically, while Prince Charles remained seated.
Rumours of a Deeper Bond
What surprised many was how their brief meeting reportedly led to a close personal connection. Jackson later claimed they stayed in frequent contact.