Press Association via AP ImagesLionel Richie paid a special tribute to the late Princess Diana and her son Prince William as he performed in front of him and hundreds of other people at a Jewish charity fundraising dinner on Thursday.
The 65-year-old sang his haunting No. 1 hit 1984 ballad "Hello," which he said was Diana's favorite song. The princess, mother of William and Prince Harry, 30, died at age 36 in a car crash in 1997. His and Kate Middleton's newborn daughter is partially named after her—Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge.
"Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Princess Diana and tonight we have Prince William here," Richie told the crowd. "I must tell you it is a pleasure to be with all of you but especially this gentleman, because his mother came to me...and she said, 'My favorite song is 'Hello.'' So I thought, tonight the dedication is to you, my friend."
Diana had met Richie almost 10 years before her death, at his concert in London. The singer-songwriter and his wife Brenda presented the princess, then 25 years old, with two leather jackets for William and Harry, who were 4 and 2 at the time.
Diana had never disclosed her favorite song publicly but has cited Dire Straits as one of her favorite bands, while she was also known to enjoy music from other rock and pop artists and groups that were most popular in the '80s, such as Duran Duran.
William, 32, thanked Richie for "giving your time to entertain us," joking, "I imagine the crowd here will be rowdier that what you'll have at Glastonbury."
The prince made his comments during a speech to the some 1,400 guests at the event, which took place at London's Alexandra Palace and celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Jewish health and social care charity Jewish Care. This marked the prince's first appearance at a Jewish community event. The organization helps people suffering from diseases such as dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease and also offers support for survivors of the Nazi Holocaust.
"During a year when many in the Jewish community have had cause to feel under threat, for no reason other than simply the fact of your Jewishness, your unity is all the more precious," William said in his speech. "Your commitment and loyalty to one another, and to society more widely, is ultimately what keeps you strong."
"I was reminded before I came here tonight that an ancestor of mine, a previous Duke of Cambridge in fact, visited the Great Synagogue in London in 1809 and attended a Sabbath service there with his brothers," he continued. "It is a matter of great pride that these bonds in our society run as deep as they run long."
He ended his speech by saying, "Mazel tov," Hebrew for "Congratulations."
—Reporting by Lindsay Good