Lyla Dejesus
Elton John, a close friend of Princess Diana, performed at the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. John's attendance was initially unclear, as he had previously stated that he had not received an invitation. However, he not only attended the wedding but also performed at the lunchtime reception, hosted by Queen Elizabeth at St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle. The performance included a dedication of his 1971 song Tiny Dancer for the bride.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of performance | May 19, 2018 |
| Location | St. George's Hall, Windsor Castle |
| Event | Wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry |
| Time | Lunchtime reception |
| Confirmed by | Kensington Palace |
| Songs performed | "Tiny Dancer" |
| Songs possibly performed | "Candle in the Wind" |
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What You'll Learn
Elton John performed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reception
Sir Elton John performed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding reception, held at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle. Kensington Palace confirmed the news, stating that "Prince Harry asked Sir Elton to perform at the Reception which was hosted by Her Majesty The Queen".
Elton John's attendance at the royal wedding had been the subject of much speculation in the months leading up to the event. In March, Elton John himself claimed that he had not yet received an invite, despite rearranging concerts for the May 19 nuptials. He also fuelled rumours by cancelling a string of Las Vegas performances that were due to take place around the time of the wedding.
However, these concerns proved unfounded, as Elton John not only attended the wedding but also performed at the lunchtime reception. He was introduced by Prince Harry, who asked the audience, "Does anyone here know how to play the piano?". Elton John then took to the stage, performing hit songs including "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer", "Circle of Life", and "I'm Still Standing".
Elton John's performance at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle held special significance due to his close connection with the royal family. He was a close friend of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and famously performed "Candle in the Wind" at her funeral in 1997. Prince Harry also reportedly spent time with Elton John in Sicily, where the musician noticed the Prince's love for Meghan Markle.
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He is a close friend of the royal family
Elton John has been a close friend of the royal family for many years. He first became close with the family when he met Princess Diana at a party in 1981. The pair "immediately clicked", and John later recalled that Diana was "fabulous company" and "a real gossip". He also noted that she had the ability to make people feel totally comfortable in her company, a quality that he believes Princes William and Harry have inherited.
John and Princess Diana remained close friends until her death in 1997. John performed "Candle in the Wind", which he rewrote to be about the Princess, at her funeral at Westminster Abbey. He also stood next to her at the 1997 requiem mass for Gianni Versace, with whom he and Princess Diana were both close friends. John and Versace collaborated on a coffee table book in 1997, in which they published photos of Diana and her sons alongside shots of nude male models. This caused a rough patch in their friendship, but they were close again by the time of Versace's death later that year.
Since Princess Diana's death, John has maintained a close relationship with her sons, Princes William and Harry. He attended Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, and performed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. He also spent time with Harry and Meghan in Italy in 2017, and told ITV that Harry resembled his mother in his ability to "walk into a room of people and make them feel at ease, as if she'd known them all her life".
John and his husband, David Furnish, have a particularly special bond with Harry and Meghan, which has grown since the couple moved to California. Meghan and Furnish are now developing a Netflix animated series together, titled Pearl, on which they will both serve as executive producers.
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John was a good friend of Princess Diana
Elton John and Princess Diana were close friends. They first met at Windsor Castle in 1981, at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party. John recalled how they danced the Charleston alone on the floor for 20 minutes. He also danced with Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth II, grooving to Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock".
John was completely bewitched by Diana, and he wasn't alone. She had an incredible social ease and an ability to make people feel totally comfortable in her company. John admired her selfless humanity, famously recalling a photo of her holding an AIDS patient's hand. He recognised her power to change public attitudes forever.
Their friendship was not without its complications. In 1997, John and Gianni Versace released a coffee table book, with photos of Diana and her sons among shots of nude male models. This caused a rough patch in their relationship, and they reconciled just six weeks before Diana's tragic death.
Despite their ups and downs, John and Diana were close. They supported each other through difficult times, both having suffered devastating losses. John was devastated by her passing and performed a rewritten version of "Candle in the Wind" at her funeral, a tribute to his friend, with changed lyrics by Bernie Taupin.
John's friendship with Diana led to a relationship with her son, Prince Harry. They bonded over their work to end the global AIDS epidemic. John performed at Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle, where he likely serenaded the happy couple.
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He performed at Princess Diana's funeral
It is unclear what time Elton John will perform at the wedding. However, he did perform at Princess Diana's funeral.
Elton John and Princess Diana were close friends. They first met at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle in 1981. John and Diana also gravitated towards each other at major public events such as Live Aid, with John performing for Diana at the Prince’s Trust concert in 1997.
Princess Diana died in August 1997. Elton John performed at her funeral, singing "Candle in the Wind", which he rewrote as "Goodbye England's Rose" or "Candle in the Wind 1997" in tribute to the "People's Princess". The song was originally a hit in 1973, and John's new version was well-received, making the Billboard Hot 100 list. John's performance was one of the most memorable parts of the service, encapsulating the national outpouring of emotion after Diana's untimely death.
The royal family was opposed to John performing the song at the funeral, deeming the new lyrics too sentimental. However, the Dean of Westminster, the late Very Reverend Dr Wesley Carr, urged the palace to reconsider, arguing that John's tribute would be an "imaginative and generous" gesture to the public, who had turned against the royal family after Diana's death.
John later recalled that performing at Diana's funeral was "one of the most surreal things I have ever done". He promised never to perform the tweaked rendition again unless Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, specifically asked.
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It is unclear whether he played piano during the church ceremony
Elton John has performed at a number of weddings, including that of Princess Diana's close friend, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry. John was a regular at Charles' Prince Trust annual concert and also attended Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew's wedding in 1986. He also performed at the wedding of Rush Limbaugh, a controversial American radio host.
At Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, Elton John performed at the lunchtime reception, hosted by Queen Elizabeth at St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle. He played a number of songs, including a dedication of "Tiny Dancer" for the bride. However, it is unclear whether he played the piano during the church ceremony. While Elton John is a talented pianist and has performed on the piano at other weddings, there is no mention of him playing the piano specifically during the church ceremony at this wedding.
Elton John's performance at the royal wedding was especially meaningful due to his close connection with the couple and their family. He was a friend of Harry's mother, Princess Diana, and performed "Candle in the Wind" at her funeral in 1997. John had also spent time with Prince Harry in Sicily the previous summer, where they discussed Harry's love for Meghan.
The decision to include Elton John as a performer at the royal wedding was well-received, and his presence added to the joy and celebration of the occasion. While the specific details of his performance during the church ceremony may not be widely known, his musical contributions throughout the wedding festivities were undoubtedly memorable for the couple and their guests.
Elton John's appearance at Rush Limbaugh's wedding, on the other hand, was more surprising due to their differing views and Limbaugh's controversial reputation. Limbaugh's wife, Kathryn Rogers, extended the invitation to John, and he agreed, citing his belief in "building bridges, not walls." John's performance at this wedding also included piano playing, as he closed his set with "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from "The Lion King."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, he performed at the lunchtime reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth at St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle.
The exact time of his performance is unknown, but it took place during the lunchtime reception.
No, he did not perform at the ceremony, which took place at St. George's Chapel.
No, he did not perform at their wedding, but he was in attendance.
