Sir Elton John's relationship with the Royal family has grown over the years, read to find out where it started.
Sir Elton John is considered an icon in music, as well as one of the most successful artists of all time. Having started his career in the 1970s, the musician has had numerous instances of commercial success, and his showmanship along with his music is revered all around the world.
During a particular time in his career, he became friends with a Royal family member and a subsequent homage to that Royal held the entire nation at a standstill.
An unexpected friendship
By 1981, Sir Elton had already released 15 albums, and was riding the wave of the success and fame that he had established. It was at that time, he was invited to perform at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party, reports Smooth Radio.
Before he could begin his performance, he found himself dancing with Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne in the ballroom. He was reportedly overwhelmed by this social situation, all until Princess Diana walked into the room and he stated that all of his discomforts disappeared.
Sir Elton notes:
That night in 1981, she arrived in the ballroom and we immediately clicked. We ended up pretending to dance the Charleston while hooting at the disco’s feebleness.
From that point onward, the duo developed a very close bond with each other. Sir Elton and Princess Diana shared a lot of values in terms of their charitable endeavors, with both of them often supporting each other. Smooth Radio further reports that Sir Elton performed at the Prince's Trust concert in 1997, specifically singing for Diana. The duo also attended major charitable events together.
He noted in his autobiography:
If I was bowled over by Diana, it was nothing compared with the impact she could have on straight men. They seemed to completely to lose their minds in her presence: they were just utterly bewitched.
The duo had a brief falling out weeks before Diana's death, but they reconnected once again when they attended the funeral of their mutual friend, Gianni Versace. Six weeks later, Princess Diana tragically passed away due to a traffic collision, and one of the most affected was Sir Elton himself.
According to Smooth Radio, Sir Elton was approached by Sir Richard Branson to re-write his 1973 song Candle In The Wind in homage to Princess Diana, which was heartfully obliged by Sir Elton. His performance at the funeral is considered one of his most iconic which perfectly encapsulated how the nation felt about the loss of Princess Diana.
Continuing the relationship
It goes without saying that Sir Elton had a special friendship with the late Princess Diana, and he has maintained the same with her sons as well. According to Town and Country Magazine, Sir Elton has noted that Prince William and Prince Harry both carry Diana's ability to make people feel comfortable in her company.
He was also one of the first people to know about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship, as Prince Harry spent time with the musician in Sicily, Italy in 2017, reports Town and Country Magazine. He noted that 'I could tell that he was totally in love' and said that he was happy for both Prince Harry and Prince William.
Sir Elton performed at Meghan and Harry's wedding reception in 2018 as well. He has publicly defended Harry and Meghan in the midst of criticisms over the couple taking a private jet to Sir Elton's house in Nice, France, as the public contrasted their flight with their climate change activism.
He added:
To support Prince Harry’s commitment to the environment, we ensured their flight was carbon neutral, by making the appropriate contribution to Carbon Footprint.
BBC reports that Sir Elton is also suing The Daily Mail over a 'privacy breach' alongside Prince Harry and many other public figures. Although the musician has his own reasons to move forward with this legal action, the values he shares with Prince Harry just as he did with Diana are apparent here.
Read more:
⋙ Princess Diana: A tribute by her close friend Sir Elton John
⋙ Britney Spears' comeback track with Sir Elton John leaks as fans blown away
