'(Queen Elizabeth) led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine care and warmth,' Elton John said at his recent concert. Photo: AFP
Members of rock royalty want the queen to feel the love.
Elton John got emotional when paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth at his Farewell Yellow Brick Road show in Toronto in the hours after her death.
“Well of course you know today we had the saddest news about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,” the Rocket Man singer, 75, said Thursday (Sept 8) night.
John remembered the longest-reigning British monarch as “an inspiring presence to be around”, noting that he’d spent time with the “fantastic” head of state.
“She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine care and warmth,” continued the Grammy winner. “I’m 75 — she’s been with me all my life.”
Though John said he is “very sad that she won’t be with me anymore”, he is “glad she’s at peace” and “at rest .... She deserves it because she’s worked bloody hard,” according to E!.
John sent his “love to her family and her loved ones” and asked the audience to “celebrate her life tonight with music” before singing, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
John wasn’t the only British musical icon to pay tribute to Her Majesty. Paul McCartney took to Facebook to share his thoughts on “the sad occasion,” for which “memories came flooding back”.
“I feel privileged to have been alive during the whole of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign,” said the former Beatle, 80. “Looking back I am honoured and amazed to see that I met Her Majesty eight or nine times and each time she impressed me with her great sense of humour combined with great dignity.”
McCartney described each occasion, including when The Beatles received the MBE in 1965 and his last meeting with the royal in 2018.
“Because of my respect and love for the Queen and her fabulous sense of humour when I was given the Companion of Honour medal I shook her hand, leaned in and said, ‘We have got to stop meeting like this, to which she giggled slightly and got on with the ceremony. I did wonder if I was a bit too cheeky after saying this, after all this was The Queen, but I have a feeling she didn’t mind,” recalled McCartney. “God bless you. You will be missed.”
King Charles III — eldest son of the late queen, who died at the age of 96, and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April 2021 at the age of 99 — on Saturday was officially crowned the newest leader of the United Kingdom.
“My mother’s reign was unequaled in its duration, dedication and devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life,” 73-year-old Charles, who legally became King immediately upon his mother’s death, said at St. James’ Palace in London Saturday. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
