Sir Elton John holds hands with President Emmanuel Macron as he is awarded France's Legion d'Honneur in Paris... while their supportive partners David Furnish and Brigitte watch on
- Elton John received Legion d'Honneur from French President Emmanuel Macron
- The legendary musician, 72, watched on by his proud husband David Furnish
- Macron dubbed the Tiny Dancer singer 'an icon that knew how to set an example'
Sir Elton John walked hand-in-hand with French President Emmanuel Macron as he arrived at the Elysee Palace to be awarded the prestigious Legion d'Honneur.
The legendary musician, 72, was watched on by his proud husband David Furnish, 56, and Macron's wife Brigitte, 66, as he accepted the accolade in Paris on Friday.
The ceremony came amid Elton's sprawling 201 date Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour, which hit the French capital's AccorHotels Arena on June 20.
Honour: Sir Elton John, 72, beamed with joy as he was awarded France's Legion d'Honneur from President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday
Following the gig, the Your Song hitmaker headed to the Elysee Palace, where he was presented with the coveted accolade by the president.
The singer looked dapper in a blue suit, with his jacket emblazoned with the words 'Benny and the Jets' on the back – the first song released from Elton's 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album.
Elton teamed his ensemble with a white shirt and a blue and red polka dot tie, as well as his signature red-tinted glasses.
After arriving at the ceremony hand-in-hand with the French president, Elton gave a speech in the courtyard of the presidential palace.
Prestigious: The Tiny Dancer hitmaker was embraced the French president after the pair arrived at the Elysee Palace
So proud: The legendary musician was watched on by his proud husband David Furnish and Macron's wife Brigitte as he accepted the prestigious accolade
Meanwhile, David, 56, rocked a navy pinstripe suit as he proudly watched Elton give his speech with their two children Elijah, six, and Zachary, eight.
He stood alongside Macaron's wife Brigitte, who looked elegant in a white shift dress.
The Tiny Dancer hitmaker was also seen embracing the French president, who wore a stylish black suit, before thousands of people moved into the courtyard for an event of the annual Fete de la Musique.
Thrilled: The ceremony came amid Elton's sprawling 201 date Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour, which hit the French capital's AccorHotels Arena on June 20
Tribute: The singer looked dapper in a blue suit, with his jacket emblazoned with the words 'Benny and the Jets' on the back – the first song released from Elton's 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album
Grin: Meanwhile, David, 56, rocked a navy pinstripe suit as he proudly watched Elton give his speech with their two children Elijah, six, and Zachary, eight.
The president saluted the virtuoso musician as 'an icon that knew how to set an example'.
'To receive this decoration the day of the Fete de la Musique makes it even more special,' Elton said later in the palace courtyard.
Macron used the occasion to make a call to world leaders to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria before an October summit in Lyon, France.
Elegant: David stood alongside Macaron's wife Brigitte, who looked elegant in a white shift dress
'To receive this decoration the day of the Fete de la Musique makes it even more special,' Elton said in the palace courtyard
Icon: The president saluted the virtuoso musician as 'an icon that knew how to set an example'
He said that 27 million people have been treated and saved through the Global Fund that raised about 13 billion euros in 2016.
Elton has generated over £300million for HIV prevention, education, care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS through his own non-profit AIDS Foundation, set up in 1992 after the disease claimed the lives of many friends, among them Queen idol Freddie Mercury.
Away from the stage, Elton has seen his colourful life brought to the big screen in recent musical biopic Rocket Man, with young British talent Taron Edgerton documenting his meteoric rise to fame.
Call: Macron used the occasion to make a call to world leaders to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Saved: He said that 27 million people have been treated and saved through the Global Fund that raised about 13 billion euros in 2016
However he hit out after the biopic was heavily edited in Russia and Samoa to remove any scenes of same sex kissing and intercourse.
Also cut out in the edited version is a caption and photograph at the end referring to Elton living with his husband David Furnish and raising their two sons, Zachary and Elijah.
The musical sensation released a statement following Russian film critic Anton Dolin sharing how the feature film had been altered in Russia - after he attended a preview.
Work: Elton has generated over £300million for HIV prevention, education, care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS through his own non-profit AIDS Foundation
A joint statement from Elton and the filmmakers read: 'We reject in the strongest possible terms the decision to pander to local laws and censor Rocketman for the Russian market, a move we were unaware of until today.
'Paramount Pictures have been brave and bold partners in allowing us to create a film which is a true representation of Elton's extraordinary life, warts and all.
'That the local distributor has edited out certain scenes, denying the audience the opportunity to see the film as it was intended is a sad reflection of the divided world we still live in and how it can still be so cruelly unaccepting of the love between two people.
Biopic: Elton has recently seen his colourful life brought to the big screen in recent musical biopic Rocket Man
Hit out: He hit out after the biopic was heavily edited in Russia and Samoa to remove any scenes of same sex kissing and intercourse
'We believe in building bridges and open dialogue, and will continue to push for the breaking down of barriers until all people are heard equally across the world.'
Sir Elton's farewell tour kicked off at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania in September 2018.
The enormous roadshow will take in a total of 201 shows across North America, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, mainland Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand before concluding at London's O2 Arena on December 16 2020.
A joint statement from Elton and the filmmakers read: 'We reject in the strongest possible terms the decision to pander to local laws and censor Rocketman for the Russian market, a move we were unaware of until today' (Pictured, Taron Egerton as Elton)
