British singer Elton John was left teary eyed and “flabbergasted” after being awarded a surprise national humanities medal by President Biden, following a concert at the White House.
Among the estimated 2,000 guests were former first lady Laura Bush, tennis champion Billie Jean King, British Ambassador to the United States Karen Elizabeth Pierce, and John’s husband, David Furnish. Members of Biden’s administration including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also attended.at the White House in 1998 alongside Stevie Wonder at a state dinner for British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He became Sir Elton John after being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 and has been a close ally of Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, defending them in the press after the criticism they received for stepping back from senior royal duties. John reworked “Candle In The Wind” after the death of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, which went on to break records, selling over 33 million copies.
John told fans while onstage in Canada this past week that he had been “very sad” to learn of the death of the queen, praising her decency and noting that she had for decades “worked bloody hard.” His medal from Biden will sit alongside his Legion d’Honneur, given to him by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2019.
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