ELTON JOHN WILL PERFORM AT THE ROYAL WEDDING

[left-of-center2012]

Elton John will take the stage at the royal wedding ... a fitting choice given the singer's history with Prince Harry, Princess Diana and the Royal Family.

Sources close to Elton tell TMZ the singer is set to perform during Saturday's event ... it's still unclear whether he'll get behind his piano at the church ceremony or at the reception later in the night.

Elton's been tight with the Royal Family for years ... he was an extremely close friend of Princess Diana. The two worked together to raise money for AIDS research and awareness of the disease.

The singer was also a tremendous source of support for Prince Harry and Prince William when Diana died in 1997. Elton famously performed "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute for Diana at her funeral.

http://www.tmz.com/2018/05/16/elton-john-perform-royal-wedding-prince-harry-meghan-markle/

[Kittycow]

1. I gotta set my alarm clock for Saturday!

I'm miffed because they're making the 600 guests stand for the following luncheon reception. I can't stand that long; I need a chair!

And how are the guests supposed to balance a drink and still eat out of the little bowls of food plus canapes that are being served

I have to laugh at myself because I'm taking it so personally although it doesn't affect my life in any way

Thanks for the update

[leftynyc]

2. My sister and I have

already scheduled a "phone date" to watch. Can't wait to see the clothes. With all the madness and sadness in the world today, nothing wrong with kicking back and watching the pomp for a few hours.

[ChubbyStar]

3. My sister Maureen and I have the same date

We love watching the pageantry! The hats are always to die for, better than the Kentucky Derby. With Elton preforming it should be a smashing event.

[Kittycow]

7. That sounds fun with your sisters!

It will just me and my cats but one of them thinks she's Queen of the World so I guess I'm in good company.

My husband kinda sighs at me but he came home with a beautiful hardcover book Harry and Meghan--An Invitation to the Royal Wedding for a surprise.

Are you watching it on TV or online?

[leftynyc]

8. I'll watch on my big screen

in the living room - with my giant tuxedo kittie on my lap. I'm sure sis will have her two goldens close by. We did William/Kate's wedding on the phone also but that was a work day (a Friday if I'm remembering right) so I had to leave just before the actual vows. Sounds like you have a wonderful husband - rolling eyes and all.

[Kittycow]

10. Oh that big screen sounds nice!

You'll be able to really see the details

I'll probably watch it different channels on our smallish bedroom TV and my phone at the same time. Or that might be too distracting; I'll have to see.

I was mad that the announcers cut away on William and Kate's wedding so I didn't get to see Kate's veil getting lifted

That was really nice of my hubby and it didn't hurt that the book was 30% off!

[leftynyc]

11. I see coverage is beginning

at 5AM which is two hours before the ceremony (I think I have that right - noon service=7AM Eastern time). With a GIANT iced coffee also. It's not really a hardship to get up that early. My kitty rarely waits much longer than that to be fed and when a 21 pound tux is in your face, you obey.

[Kittycow]

12. Mine starts around 1:30 am PST or so. The starting events.

I didn't know about those. Thanks for mentioning it! I have odd sleeping hours due to pain-somnia and trucker husband. I'm usually up then but I better set a series of alarms so I don't nod off.

A 21 lb Kitty? There's no getting around that, no matter how hard you try

[leftynyc]

17. Butch is part Maine Coon

so he's very tall and long and VERY fluffy (I crack up at all the cartoons that say "I'm not fat, I'm fluffy", because he really is). He's a 1-1/2 pounds overweight and at 13 years old, I don't sweat it. Also the sweetest cat I've ever had, very dog like - will climb into my lap demanding attention but cat like in that if I'm not into that at that particular time, he doesn't get huffy.

[IluvPitties]

4. Why are these royals important?

[ChubbyStar]

5. I don't consider them important

To me it is like watching a play/production. The clothes are beautiful or not, the hats are crazy. Maybe a drunk aunt or uncle will liven the bash up. It is FUN!

[IluvPitties]

6. I just feel the whole spectacle glorifies an undeserved status of privilege.

[leftynyc]

9. That's for the British to decide

And until they decide they've had enough of a royal family, I'm going to enjoy the pomp of their weddings.

[MicaelS]

13. Wow, I wish I had said that!!

Great post. Thanks.

[LanternWaste]

15. One can easily imagine a Rwandan subsistence farmer saying the same about a typical American wedding

One can easily imagine a Rwandan subsistence farmer saying the same about a typical American wedding. I suppose it's all merely relative, and is available for all to celebrate or simply ignore as the mood takes us.

[left-of-center2012]

14. I'll take the royals over the Trumps any day

[Hekate]

19. Oh gods, yes

[MicaelS]

16. Here are some Brits who agree with you.

Knock yourself out.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/british-anti-monarchy-activists-won-t-be-cheering-royal-wedding-n874366

[Hekate]

18. 4:00am in California is too early for me, so I'll catch the highlights later on...

My recollection is that I saw Diana's funeral in real time, but that was only because I was writing term papers at the time -- all night, as was my habit. I went out to the kitchen for more coffee and turned on the tv, and there was the funeral, so I got caught up in it. I remember writing about her in my journalfterward: she was so gorgeous and privileged she could have spent her life as a member if the jet-set and nothing more, but she tried so earnestly to do some actual good in this world regarding AIDS and land mines, among other things. She touched my heart as a real person, with real sons.

I don't "follow" royals and celebrities, as a general rule, but you can't help absorbing some of the drama and info that's out there and form opinions. In my opinion, I would not want to marry into that family -- especially not into Charles' generation, where Tradition about who they could marry weighed so heavily. There is (or was) some damn committee that checks royal pedigrees and determines who royals are allowed to marry. That's why Charles could not marry Camilla in the first place. Looking around (finally) for someone eligible, he asked Diana's older sister, and she said no way. Eventually he courted the younger sister.

One gift of Charles and Diana to their sons was to break that mold forever. The heir to the throne married a flat-out commoner from a self-made business family, that he met at college and not at a formal dinner at her family's ancestral estate. His brother is going to marry a multi-racial American actress. Best of luck to all of them.