To be sure, Elton John has been a member of many exclusive clubs over the decades, but perhaps none as exclusive as the one he officially joined on Wednesday.

At a coronation ceremony at Windsor Castle, Prince Charles made the rock superstar and patron of the charity a member of the Order of Friends of Honor.

It is one of the highest gifts that Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, could give a citizen of Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations. The 95-year-old monarch is also a member of the order.

Created in 1917 by his grandfather, King George V, the award recognizes people who have made “significant contributions to art, science, medicine or government over a long period of time.”

Its current members include British environmentalist David Attenborough, Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, and one of the greatest British athletes in history, Sebastian Coe.

The group, which in the past included wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and scientist Stephen Hawking, can only have a maximum of 65 members, excluding rulers, at any one time.

John, who was knighted by the Queen in 1998, a year after the death of his friend Diana, Princess of Wales, joined the Companions of Honor on the Queen’s Honors List in late 2019 for his services to music and charity.

The 74-year-old singer-songwriter, who walks with the aid of a cane after recently undergoing hip surgery, reflects on a career that has seen her release hit after hit since the 1970s, including “Your Song,” “Rocketman” and “Lilin in the Wind. ” He has also taken leadership roles in various charities, most notably the Elton John AIDS Foundation, his foundation against AIDS.

“I have had an amazing life, music has been my life, and I accept this for my music and charity work,” he said. “So this is just a reminder that there is still a lot to be done. More work to do for music, more work to do for charity and this life is great, I’m so lucky.”

His farewell tour has been postponed and is due to start next year. John is very excited despite the surgery on his right hip.

“I had a hip replacement, but I’m full of energy and full of enthusiasm,” the artist said. “It’s just an indicator to say ‘come on, you have more to do now’.”