Elton John at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Image: Getty
They may have just passed their two-month anniversary, but the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is still a fresh memory for Sir Elton John. The British singer-songwriter reflected on the historic nuptials this week, telling CNN the occasion marked “progress” for the nation. “It was very, very wonderful to be there,” the 71-year-old star told the news channel. “To have a black gospel choir, a multiracial bride, a black cellist, who was wonderful, a preacher — it felt like a party, and it felt like progress had been made. To be the first multiracial royal wedding in Britain – amazing.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle after their wedding on May 19, 2018. Image: Getty
The knighted performer praised HM Queen Elizabeth II for the landmark shift, adding: “If you go back and watch The Crown, in the ’50s Princess Margaret wasn’t even allowed to get married because [Captain Peter Townsend] was divorced. And look how far we’ve come in that respect. I think the Queen had a lot to do with it. I think she’s been magnificent.”
John not only attended the ceremony, but performed at the wedding breakfast, held at St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. The star, who enjoyed a close friendship with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, was reportedly asked to sing by Prince Harry. John famously performed Candle in the Wind at the late royal’s funeral in 1997, and has been a friend to her sons, Princes William and Harry, even since.
Last month The Duke of Sussex, @Sentebale Patron, made a private visit to Sentebale projects in Lesotho – today at @AIDS_conference in Amsterdam he will meet youth advocates driving change in the fight to end HIV/AIDS by 2030 #AIDS2018 pic.twitter.com/pLdNvyWmBM
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 23, 2018
The singer’s words come shortly after he joined forces with the Duke of Sussex to launch an initiative dedicated to expanding the research and treatment of HIV infections in men, “with the aim of ultimately ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030”. To mark the occasion, which took place in Amsterdam this week, Kensington Palace released new photos of the royal during a private trip to Africa. Prince Harry visited Lesotho in June to visit one of his co-founded charities, Sentebale. The non-profit, which the royal founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, supports young people affected by HIV in the nation and Botswana. The pair launched the charity in tribute to their mothers, and Prince Seeiso attended Prince Harry’s wedding in May.
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