Sir Elton John made a flying visit to Sicily to serenade his close friend Dua Lipa and her new husband Callum Turner at their wedding on Saturday. However, the 79-year-old music icon reportedly struggled with his sight during the performance as his ongoing eye problems persist.
A Low-Key Ceremony Followed by Lavish Celebrations
The A-list couple tied the knot in a low-key ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall in London last weekend before flying to Italy for three days of celebrations with friends and family. The festivities culminated in a second wedding at the Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, east of Palermo.
Elton's Emotional Performance
In a highly emotional moment, the bride's good friend Elton performed his classic hit Your Song at the couple's request. He flew into Italy by private jet just in time to sing at the ceremony. However, insiders revealed that Sir Elton was struggling with his vision and had to be guided to the piano by two helpers.
An insider told The Sun: 'He played and sang amazingly but seemed frail and had to be helped.'
Departure from Sicily
Sir Elton and his husband David Furnish, 63, were later pictured leaving Palermo airport on Sunday by private plane, returning to Farnborough, 18 miles from their home in Windsor. Sir Elton was seen being guided inside by David by the hand as they arrived, and he took a seat during check-in. He also gave a cheery wave after spotting photographers. The publication claims the one-night return flight cost a cool £50,000.
Elton's Ongoing Vision Problems
The I'm Still Standing singer has been open about the challenges his deteriorated vision has caused. He revealed he had endured a challenging time since losing the sight in his right eye. He initially contracted an eye infection while in France in the summer of 2024, which left him blind in his right eye—a situation he described as devastating.
Despite this, the star remains determined to stay optimistic about his long-term prospects. 'It's been devastating. Because I lost my right eye and my left eye's not so good, the last 15 months have been challenging for me because I haven't been able to see anything, watch anything, read anything,' he told Variety. He added: 'I've had the most incredible life, and there is hope. I've just gotta be patient that someday science will help me with this one. Once they help me with this one, I'll be fine.'
He compared his situation to the AIDS crisis, stating: 'You mustn't give up hope, you must be stoic, you must be strong and you must always try and batter the door down to try and improve things.'
Support from Family and Friends
Husband David has also retained an optimistic outlook, revealing last year that there have been some improvements in his left eye with treatments they have pursued. However, because there is damage to the retina in his right eye, and retinas do not heal naturally, it remains an area of emerging science. Sir Elton praised his wonderful family and celebrity pals, including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards, for keeping his spirits raised.
Continued Performances Despite Challenges
Despite retiring from touring in 2023, the star has continued to perform. He put on shows at the Singapore Grand Prix and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before Christmas, ahead of his private engagement for Dua and Callum, 36. He and Dua collaborated on the hit single Cold Heart (Pnau remix) in 2021, which reached number one—marking her third chart-topper and his eighth, and first in 16 years.
Other Musical Performances at the Wedding
Sir Elton was not the only famous face providing music for the happy couple's celebrations. DJs Carl Cox, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and Peggy Gou also performed. Saturday's event included a 10-minute firework display at around 11:30 pm, following Thursday's yacht party and Friday's festivities at Galleria Moderna, all part of the £1.5 million second leg of their wedding.
Metro has contacted representatives for Sir Elton John for comment.
