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Backstage before the concert, the two were introduced. Michael later recalled feeling deeply nervous about meeting Diana. Despite performing for massive crowds around the world, the idea of greeting a princess left him tense. In photographs from that evening, there is a visible stiffness in his posture and a kind of cautious politeness between them.
Part of that awkwardness stemmed from a decision Jackson had made before the show. Out of respect, he had removed the song “Dirty Diana” from the setlist. The track, which tells the story of a persistent groupie, seemed inappropriate to perform in front of a royal guest who happened to share the same name. Jackson believed omitting the song was the proper thing to do.
During their conversation before the concert, she reportedly asked whether he would be performing “Dirty Diana.” When he explained that he had taken it out of the show in her honor, she encouraged him to put it back in. She wanted him to perform the full concert as intended. With her approval, Jackson restored the song to the setlist and performed it that night.
The exchange revealed something about Diana’s character. She was not fragile or easily offended, as tabloids often suggested. She was, in fact, a devoted music fan. Her favorite band was said to be Duran Duran, but she also loved Jackson’s music. Albums like Thriller and Bad were reportedly part of her personal collection. During the Wembley concert, witnesses later claimed she danced enthusiastically in her seat, while Prince Charles remained more reserved.
That single meeting may have been brief, but it appears to have left a lasting impression on both of them.
In later interviews, Jackson spoke warmly about Diana. He described her as kind and gracious, someone who understood the pressures of public life in a way few others could. According to Jackson, they maintained contact by phone in the years that followed. He claimed that Diana would sometimes call late at night and that they spoke at length about their children and the challenges of media intrusion.
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