Why Prince Harry distanced himself from Elton John—A look at their falling out

Elton John and Prince Harry’s once-close friendship appears to have taken a major hit, following the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s exclusion from the singer’s Oscars party guest list in 2023.

According to Tom Bower, author of Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors, the Duke of Sussex was left disappointed after being snubbed from Elton John’s exclusive Oscars party—a move that allegedly led to a rift between the longtime friends.

Speaking to GB News, Bower revealed: "They [Meghan and Harry] weren’t even invited to Elton John’s party at the Oscars... they really are nobodies in Hollywood."

The music icon and Prince Harry have been close for years, as Elton John shared a deep bond with Princess Diana, the duke’s late mother.

Following Harry and Meghan’s royal exit, Elton was initially supportive of the couple, even helping them with their transition to life outside the monarchy.

In 2018, a royal insider told the Daily Mirror: "Elton speaks to Harry and Meghan every day. He’s an inspiration, an almost ‘motherly’ figure. He is a constant support, especially to Meghan, and is very protective of them both."

The couple was so grateful for his support that they even recorded a special video message for Elton’s farewell concert, with Harry emotionally thanking him: "Thank you for being the friend that you were to my mum. Thank you for being our friend, thank you for being a friend to our kids... we love you."

Despite their close relationship, Prince Harry distanced himself from Elton John after the singer serialized his memoir with the Daily Mail—a move that ignored Harry and Meghan’s legal battle with the publication.

In his own memoir, Spare, Harry reflected on his mixed emotions towards Elton John, writing: "I loved him. I’ll always love him. And I also didn’t want to spoil the holiday."

With their friendship now seemingly strained, many wonder if the bond between Harry and Elton can ever be repaired.

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