Bryan Adams has been open about his attempts to “save” many famous women he has befriended over the years – including, he claims, the late Princess Diana.
The Summer '69 rock singer, who had a close relationship with the royal family in the years leading up to her death in 1997, revealed he feels meeting her was one of the “greatest things” he ever had. has happened.
He also recalled an awkward first meeting with the princess, on a plane in the late 1980s, years after he had written a song titled her name and declared heartbreak that she had married someone else.
Despite being left red-faced by the encounter, the singer revealed it marked the start of a close friendship between the pair, as Diana asked him to send her a demo of the song and later invited him to Kensington Palace for tea.
Over the years, rumors have swirled about an affair between Adams and Diana (sparked by Adams' ex-girlfriend Cecilie Thomsen saying it ruined their relationship), but the Canadian singer insists they were just good friends.
Diana, Princess of Wales (pictured, right) is photographed meeting Bryan Adams (pictured, left) in Vancouver during a tour of Vancouver in 1987
Speak with The timesAdams was asked if he tried to help Princess Diana in the final years of her life – to which he replies “uh oh” and admits “maybe a little.”
He speaks fondly of the intellectual bond the couple shared, revealing that they shared 'a lot of really, really good conversations during their decade-long friendship.
He revealed: 'I really liked Diana, she was an amazing woman and a huge inspiration. Meeting her was truly one of the most beautiful things that ever happened to me.'
Before they met, the princess was aware of the singer, thanks to a song he wrote about her with Jim Vallance.
The song was called Diana and expressed dismay that the royal family had married Charles.
The text read: 'The day he married you I almost went crazy.'
As the B-side to his 1985 US No. 1, Heaven, when Bryan met the young royal family on a plane, the subject of the song was of course the same.
Bryan Adams poses before the opening of his exhibition 'Exposed' at Camera Works in December 2018
He said he used her name in a song, to which she replied: 'Yes, I know, very funny. Actually, I'd like to hear it again.'
Bryan sent her a copy to Kensington Palace, which in turn earned him an invitation, which turned into a friendship.
He explained that they had a cup of tea and a conversation, which helped him understand “what was really going on” in her life.
Prince Harry (pictured, left) along with Bryan Adams (left) speak to soldiers during a private viewing of a photo exhibition by Bryan of young wounded soldiers and women from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan
Although many enjoyed the song by the princess, Bryan retired it after Diana's death, out of respect for her and Princes William and Harry.
Elsewhere in the interview, Adams discussed how he once got 15 minutes with the late Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace to take her photo.
Adams' second career is photography – and he was invited to take an official portrait of the then-monarch, which was used on a Canadian postage stamp.
And in 2014, Prince Harry attended an exhibition of Bryan's photographs of wounded veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan – the prince was a captain in the British Army at the time.