France

Photo Story: Elton John gets top French award

cde.news desk 22 June 2019, 07:02 · 2 min read

epa07664340 French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Sir Elton John address the crowd in the courtyard of the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 21 June 2019. Sir Elton John received the Legion of Honor, France's highest award, during a visit to the presidential Elysee Palace. EPA-EFE/Lewis Joly / POOL MAXPPP OUT

Sir Elton John, a newly awarded Legion of Honor, France’s highest award, pinned to his suit, joined a call Friday by French President Emmanuel Macron to fund AIDS research and treatment.

The world-acclaimed singer spoke alongside Macron before thousands of people packed into the presidential Elysee Palace courtyard for an event of the annual Fete de la Musique.

John was accompanied by his husband David Furnish and their two children.

France Music Festival — Sir Elton John listens in courtyard of the presidential Elysee Palace in Paris, after receiving the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award, during a visit to the presidential Elysee Palace.

The president saluted the virtuoso musician as “an icon that knew how to set an example”. Macron said he had just “decorated someone who created a unique foundation” that gathered 450 million euros for the fight against AIDS.

Elton John has his own AIDS foundation, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year.

Macron used the occasion to make a call to youth and world leaders to replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria before an October summit in Lyon, France.