Floored by a dancing queen

In 1981, Elton played at a private 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle for Prince Andrew, at which the entire royal family – and their 400 guests – was present. He confesses that he has never been so nervous before a show. At the end of a successful set, a Twenties style jazz band replaced Elton on the platform and the then-Diana Spencer asked him if he’d like to dance with her. Together they giggled and shuffled and kicked their way through improvised steps vaguely resembling the Charleston.

At the disco that followed, Elton was dancing with Princess Anne when he heard a voice in his ear enquire: ‘Can we join you?’ He turned to face Queen Elizabeth as the DJ cut into Bill Haley’s Rock Around The Clock.

And so it was that Reg found himself bopping with the queen – dressed in peach, her handbag dangling from her arm, her diamond tiara glittering under the ballroom lights – to one of the records he’d mouthed along to back in his bedroom as a shy, chubby youngster.

Rock’n’Roll ciRcles: Elton with Rod Stewart and Alana Hamilton (second from left, later Mrs Stewart) in 1979

home: With his mother Sheila and stepfather Fred Farebrother at their London flat, 1971