Elton John’s Best Moments With the Royal Family

Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images; Chris Jackson/Getty Images; Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images; Getty Images

Elton John's Best Moments With the Royal Family

More than a tiny dancer. Elton John has been connected to the royal family since the 1970s, when Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth I were fans of his music. The British musician has stayed close to the royals over the years, but formed a special bond with the late Princess Diana in the early ‘80s. "[I was] playing for Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle,” John told the Vancouver Sun of the first time he met Diana. “When I arrived, there was no one there but the dance band and Princess Diana. We danced the Charleston alone on the floor for 20 minutes.” That night, the “Circle of Life” singer also danced with Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth II, who asked the group, “Do you mind if we join you?” [jwplayer BwnSCUtd-l3ahXupL] As the years progressed, John and Diana’s relationship continued to flourish and he became close with her children, Prince Harry and Prince William, whom she shared with then-husband Prince Charles. While the musician and the Princess of Wales had a falling out after he released the book Rock and Royalty with friend Gianni Versace in 1997, they eventually came together again following the designer’s murder a few months later. “Diana rang me up and we reconciled,” John recalled in January 2018, adding that Diana was killed in a Paris car accident at age 36 just six weeks later. “It was an extraordinary and mesmerizing summer, and I just couldn’t believe what was going on.” Although Diana has been dead for more than two decades, the pianist remains a big part of the British royal family’s life. From performing at their weddings to working with them on groundbreaking charity projects, keep scrolling to relive John’s best moments with the royals over the years!

Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images; Chris Jackson/Getty Images; Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images; Getty Images

Elton John's Best Moments With the Royal Family

More than a tiny dancer. Elton John has been connected to the royal family since the 1970s, when Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth I were fans of his music. The British musician has stayed close to the royals over the years, but formed a special bond with the late Princess Diana in the early ‘80s. "[I was] playing for Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle,” John told the Vancouver Sun of the first time he met Diana. “When I arrived, there was no one there but the dance band and Princess Diana. We danced the Charleston alone on the floor for 20 minutes.” That night, the “Circle of Life” singer also danced with Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth II, who asked the group, “Do you mind if we join you?” [jwplayer BwnSCUtd-l3ahXupL] As the years progressed, John and Diana’s relationship continued to flourish and he became close with her children, Prince Harry and Prince William, whom she shared with then-husband Prince Charles. While the musician and the Princess of Wales had a falling out after he released the book Rock and Royalty with friend Gianni Versace in 1997, they eventually came together again following the designer’s murder a few months later. “Diana rang me up and we reconciled,” John recalled in January 2018, adding that Diana was killed in a Paris car accident at age 36 just six weeks later. “It was an extraordinary and mesmerizing summer, and I just couldn’t believe what was going on.” Although Diana has been dead for more than two decades, the pianist remains a big part of the British royal family’s life. From performing at their weddings to working with them on groundbreaking charity projects, keep scrolling to relive John’s best moments with the royals over the years!

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Princess Diana Providing Comfort

The late princess offered John a shoulder to cry on at the funeral for their friend Gianni Versace, who was murdered in July 1997. "She kept her cool for me … she held her composure,” the Grammy winner later told Barbara Walters. “When I started crying and she put her arms around me … that's exactly what she was like. She was such a caring and a very calming person." Diana was killed weeks later.

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Performing "Candle in the Wind" at Princess Diana's Funeral

After Diana died in a car wreck in August 1997, John rewrote his hit song “Candle in the Wind” to perform at her funeral. The British singer-songwriter called the updated version of the tune “Goodbye England's Rose” and promised never to perform the rendition again unless Harry or William specifically asked.

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Performing at Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry's Wedding

John attended William and Duchess Kate’s wedding in 2011, but took things a step further when he performed at Duchess Meghan and Harry’s nuptials seven years later. According to multiple reports, the musician sang several of his hits, including “Your Song” and “Tiny Dancer,” at the pair’s afternoon reception. Kensington Palace later confirmed the performance and revealed that Harry personally asked John to be a part of his special day. The statement from the palace read: “Sir Elton performed for the newly married couple in recognition of the close connection he has with Prince Harry and his family.”

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Performing at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert

John was a part of the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th anniversary as queen in June 2012. The “Bennie & the Jets” crooner took the stage outside Buckingham Palace in London to sing, "I’m Still Standing,” “Your Song” and “Crocodile Rock.” Many other popular musicians, including Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Ed Sheeran and Kylie Minogue, also performed at the special event.

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Paying Tribute to Princess Diana

John honored his late friend on the 20th anniversary of her death in August 2017. He captioned a throwback picture of the duo on Instagram: “20 years ago today, the world lost an angel. #RIP.”

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Fighting AIDS With Prince Harry

Harry has continued his mother’s mission to fight AIDS, and John has been right by his side. In July 2018, the prince and the musician launched the MenStar Coalition project to help raise money for AIDS research across the globe. “We stand here at a moment when the progress we have fought so hard for is at risk from a dangerous complacency,” Harry said the 2018 International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam. John added, “If we want to end AIDS once and for all, we must make men part of the solution.”