Elton John’s latest reveal may hint at how Princess Diana was quite the favourite among men. Speaking to the Mail for his upcoming memoir, Me, Sir Elton John revels that Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone almost went toe-to-toe over the Queen of People’s hearts. As per the legendary singer, the melee over Princess Diana all started in 1981 when the Rocketman singer first met Diana in 1981 at Prince Andrew’s 21st birthday party and soon became good friends.
The legendary singer, 72, writes that it was around that time a dinner party was held for former Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg for the 1994 film the Lion King when John asked the two actors if they would like to meet Diana,
“Straight away, Richard Gere and Diana seemed very taken with each other,” writes John, explaining that at the time, Diana was separated from Prince Charles and Gere, now 70, had ended his relationship with Cindy Crawford.
“As the rest of us chatted, I couldn’t help notice a strange atmosphere in the room. Judging by the kind of looks he kept shooting them, Diana and Richard Gere’s newly blossoming friendship was not going down well with Sylvester Stallone at all,” he adds. “I think he may have turned up to the party with the express intention of picking Diana up, only to find his plans for the evening ruined.”
The evening went by when Elton noted that Richard and Sylvester were no where to be seen. ‘It transpired that he’d discovered Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere in the corridor, squaring up to each other, apparently about to settle their differences over Diana by having a fist-fight’ Elton recalled.
John also notes that while the ‘near’ fist-fight was watered down, the tension between the trio was noticeable for the rest of the evening.
“After dinner, Diana and Richard Gere resumed their position together in front of the fire, and Sylvester stormed off home,” John writes, adding that the actor yelled that he “never would have come” if he knew “Prince f—n’ Charming was gonna be here.’ “