During Sir Elton John’s farewell tour, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tribute to him.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined a long list of famous people in honoring John’s career at one of his farewell concerts. After wrapping his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, the 75-year-old Grammy winner announced his retirement, and his performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday was his final in North America.
According to Us Weekly, Markle, 41, made a video that aired as part of Disney+’s “Countdown to Elton Live,” which aired shortly before “Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium” began streaming Sunday night.
“Hi Elton, we just want to say congratulations. And we are just so proud of you. We’re so grateful that we were able to see you on your farewell tour also.”
Prince Harry, 38, responded with a personal message to the singer, who was a close friend of his late mother, Princess Diana.
The prince said:
“Thank you for entertaining everybody for so many decades. Thank you for being the friend that you were for my mum, thank you for being our friend. Thank you for being a friend to our kids and thank you for entertaining people right around the world. Even though this is officially your retirement, this will not be your last gig, we know that. But we love you and congratulations on an incredible career.”
The Sussexes have a long history with John, who performed at their royal wedding in May 2018 and has a 3-year-old son Archie and a 1-year-old daughter Lilibet. Prince Harry and Markle visited the musician at his home in the south of France a year after their wedding.
Before Princess Diana’s death in 1997, John had a close relationship with Prince Harry’s late mother, having worked with her to try to end the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
In reference to Princess Diana famously shaking the hand of an AIDS patient in 1987, John stated:
“One simple handshake, one gesture showed the world the desperate need for humanity for people living with AIDS. She knew the disease could not be communicated by hand. Her gesture meant nobody should be left behind. She did not distinguish between ‘us’ and ‘them.'”
At Princess Diana’s funeral in August 1997, John performed a rewritten version of his song “Candle in the Wind,” titled “Goodbye England’s Rose.” He vowed never to play the updated version again unless instructed by Prince Harry or his older brother, Prince William.
When it comes to how they connect with the people around them, John found similarities between Princess Diana and her younger son.
John said:
“Harry has inherited his mother’s ability to walk into a room and make people, of any caste or any status in life, feel equal. That is an incredible gift. I’ve been around for 71 years and Princess Diana was one of the few people in my life who could do that.”
He continued:
“Harry has inherited that gift. He knows he has that gift. And that’s why he wants to do more with the AIDS community, the Commonwealth, and the young.”