SIR ELTON JOHN ARRIVES AT THE ROYAL WEDDING

sábado, 30 de abril de 2011

PICTURES PHOTOS SIR ELTON JOHN AT THE ROYAL WEDDING 

http://eltonjohnspics.blogspot.com/2011/04/pictures-photos-sir-elton-john-at-royal.html

 

A Traditional Royal Wedding, but for the 3 Billion Witnesses

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/world/europe/30britain.html?hp

James Hill for The New York Times

Roaring crowds (and a scowling bridesmaid) greeted Prince William and Kate Middleton for their kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Friday. More Photos »

It was an impeccably choreographed occasion of high pomp and heartfelt emotion, of ancient customs tweaked by modern developments (Elton John  brought his husband).

Viewing estimates for the ceremony, at 11 a.m. British time on the dot, hovered in the three billion range, give or take 500 million. Australians held bouquet-throwing competitions; people in Hong Kong wore Kate and William masks; New Yorkers rose by dawn to watch the entrance of guests like Victoria Beckham, teetering pregnantly in sky-high Christian Louboutin heels, Guy Ritchie, the former Mr. Madonna, and assorted monarchs from European countries that are no longer monarchies, like Bulgaria.

In London, the Metropolitan Police said, a million people lined the route of the royal procession, and half a million gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to watch the bride and groom, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, kiss (twice) on the palace balcony.

People paid attention almost despite themselves.

“I never really think too seriously about them,” said Kathy Gunn, 54, speaking of the royal family. Yet she had somehow been inexorably sucked into the spirit of the occasion, watching it unfold with a crowd on a huge screen at a cafe in central London. “It gives you a great sense of community and spirit,” she said. “I am a royalist for the day.”

In a world of scattered attention, the occasion had the effect of providing a single international conversation about a subject with universal appeal. It was like a party scene in “Dallas,” only with Prince Philip instead of J. R. Ewing.

Grizzled political correspondents, hauled in to television studios to serve as wedding anchors, found themselves talking in all seriousness about the passementerie of the mother of the bride’s dress and the provenance of Miss Middleton’s tiara. (She borrowed it from Queen Elizabeth, in case you were wondering. It is made of a great many diamonds.)

There was a feast of interesting particulars. First, Kate’s dress. Though The Daily Mail successfully predicted the name of the designer — Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen — it was still an official secret, so much so that Ms. Burton tried to sneak into Kate’s hotel on Thursday night with her face mostly obscured by a huge yeti-like fur hat.

St. James’s Palace released the details of the dress just as Miss Middleton stepped out of a royal Rolls-Royce with her father, Michael, to walk down the aisle at Westminster Abbey.

Her “something old” was the design of the dress, using traditional craftsmanship. “Something new” was represented by her earrings, a gift from her parents. The tiara was borrowed, and she had a blue ribbon sewn into her dress for her blue item.

Prince William wore the bright scarlet coat of an Irish Guards mounted officer, the uniform of his senior honorary army appointment. He was wearing “gold sword slings,” St. James’s Palace said, but no sword.

The outfits of the guests were generally tasteful and royal-friendly. A few things stuck out. The exotic costumes of foreign dignitaries, seeming throwbacks to imperial times. The hats worn by the ladies, which resembled, variously, overturned buckets, flowerpots, lampshades, fezzes, salad plates, tea cozies, flying saucers, abstract artworks or, in one case, a pile of feathers. There were also a number of fascinators, decorative shapes with flowers or feathers, that are stuck in one’s hair but are not hats.

Catty observers pointed out that Prime Minister David Cameron’s wife, Samantha, was possibly the only female guest who wore no hat (or fascinator) at all.

Mr. Cameron wore a traditional morning suit. The dress code had filled him with angst this month when news broke out that in order to avoid appearing too posh, he intended to wear a regular business suit, what the British call a “lounge suit.” But as scorn poured upon him — he is in fact posh and frequently wears posh clothes — he said that he would wear a morning suit after all.

Elton John on the Royal Wedding: 'It's not the Oscars'

http://www.nme.com/news/elton-john--2/56381

Rocket Man was among 1,900 guests at Prince William and Kate Middleton's nuptials

Photo: PA

Elton John has had his say on the Royal Wedding after attending Prince William and Kate Middleton's nuptials in London this morning (April 29).

The Rocket Man attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey with his partner David Furnish as the happy couple tied the knot in front of 1,900 guests.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5Live on his way out of the venue, John said: "It's not the Oscars."

Elton's so cruel to cut off his mother

By Amanda Platell
Last updated at 12:56 AM on 30th April 2011
She was there when her only child married the love of his life.
There also during the teenage years when he was a talented but truculent struggling musician. And it was she who helped introduce her music-loving son to rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley And His Comets, when he was just nine.
She stood by him when his life imploded as he blew a fortune on drugs and wild parties.

   

Shame on him: Elton and his mother Sheila haven't spoken in more than three years

His behaviour would have tried the love of even the most devoted parent. Yet, throughout it all, Elton John's mother never wavered in her love and support.
And now, when his mother is 86 years old and frail, we learn Elton has not spoken a word to her for more than three years, after she supposedly made a remark that Elton's partner, David Furnish, took great offence at.
'He has cut me off completely,' she said in an interview this week.
'It happened three years ago this June. He has had nothing to do with me since.'

She has never seen Elton's son Zachary. How heartbreaking.
All of us with parents in their 80s know their age brings new challenges to our love.
They're not as robust and are increasingly forgetful. Frailty creeps in and so does dependence. But we love them none the less (perhaps even more). And so we should.
Frankly, it's payback time for all the years they put up with our teenage tantrums, the broken hearts, crazy schemes, moods and melodramas. And for all the times they rejoiced in our happiness and success.
The rules aren't any different when you're a multi-millionaire rock star, but sadly Elton's tale of motherly neglect is not unique to him.
How many children stuff their elderly parents into homes at the first possible chance?
How often do they even bother to see them except on high days and holidays? How much do they resent spending a penny of their parents' life savings on their care, preferring to protect their own inheritance.
A spokesman for Elton John, attempting to explain away the rift, said: 'She is a lovely lady, but she is 86 and she is frail and old.'
All the more reason for her son, whatever the provocations, to step up and be the adult in the relationship.
Elton John has a big heart. He has raised and personally given away hundreds of millions of pounds to charities.
Yet, surely, true charity begins at home.
Tragically, it can be easier to give money to strangers than to give yourself.

Elton John's Mother Sheila Farebrother Reveals Feud

http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272639661.shtml

By Staff

Apr 29, 2011

Sir Elton John hasn't spoken to his mother in three years. Sheila Farebrother explained her 64-year-old son has cut her out of his life "completely" after what was believed to be a disagreement with his partner David Furnish, with whom Elton fathers four-month-old baby Zachary.

Elton John's Mother Reveals Feud.

She explained: "He has cut me off completely. It happened three years ago this June. He has had nothing to do with me since then.

"I don't want to go into what caused it. It is a painful subject. My son cut me out of his life for good."

***

The 86-year-old widower, who is still financially supported by the singer, also claimed she has "no particular interest" in meeting her new grandson, who was brought into the world via a surrogate mother on Christmas Day (25.12.10).

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, she added: "I have no particular interest really. You will have to ask them about that."

Despite Sheila having sold a treasure trove of Elton memorabilia for £28,820 ($48,000) when she recently moved house, she also insisted it had "nothing to do" with the rift between her and her son.

She said: "That has nothing to do with it. I moved into a smaller place and had nowhere to keep all that stuff."