The once-close relationship between Prince Harry and Elton John has taken a sour turn, resulting in Prince Harry's blacklisting from the Oscars. The bond between the two had flourished after Elton John delivered a poignant rendition of "Candle in the Wind" at Princess Diana's funeral. Reports indicate that Prince Harry, 38, who had been a regular presence at Hollywood's prestigious annual A-list event for years, enjoyed a close friendship with the 76-year-old Rocket Man star. The friendship blossomed after Elton's heartfelt performance at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.
However, their relationship took a turn when Harry approached Elton to seek refuge for himself and his wife, Meghan Markle, at Elton's mansion in France, as they felt besieged by media intrusion. Unfortunately, things reportedly went awry during their visit, leading to a fallout and subsequent exclusion from future invitations.
In his memoir, Prince Harry mentioned that Elton had plans to publish his autobiography in the Daily Mail, a publication against which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had previously taken legal action. Feeling compelled to voice his concerns, Harry questioned why Elton, a multiple Grammy winner, would choose a newspaper that had made his life miserable. Elton responded by expressing his desire for the book to reach a wide readership, prompting Harry to back down and not push the matter further.
Nevertheless, recent reports suggest that Harry and Meghan might not enjoy the same closeness with Elton as they once did, evident from their absence from last year's and Sunday's prestigious Oscars ceremony. This claim was made by author Tom Bower, known for his book "Revenge: Megan, Harry, and the War between the Houses of Windsor." Bower, speaking to GB News following the Oscars ceremony on March 12, 2023, stated that despite their previous friendly ties, Megan and Harry, who relocated to the United States in 2020, weren't even invited to Elton John's Oscars party. Bower went on to claim that the couple is perceived as "nobody" within Hollywood.
Despite the strained relationship, Prince Harry still holds deep gratitude for Elton's moving tribute at Diana's funeral. He vividly recalls the moment when Elton sat down at the piano in Westminster Abbey in 1997. Harry describes how Elton's presence seemed to transform, as if he were an ancient king rising from centuries of slumber beneath the monastery. The memory of Elton's performance of "Candle in the Wind" remains etched in Harry's mind, even though he admits that it is sometimes challenging to discern if the recollections are from that specific moment or from clips he has saved. Harry concludes with a poignant reflection, expressing his unwavering memory of the song's climax, recounting how his eyes welled up with tears and his emotions were stirred.
The fallout between Prince Harry and Elton John serves as a reminder of the complexities that can strain even the closest of friendships, especially under the immense public scrutiny faced by members of the royal family.
