Sir Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, have ended their long-standing tradition of shielding their children from public view by posting the first complete photograph showing their sons’ faces on social media.
The image, shared on Instagram, captured the family ringing in 2026 alongside fashion icon Donatella Versace at a glamorous gathering held at Claridge’s hotel in London.
Mr Furnish, 63, accompanied the photograph with the caption: “Ringing in the New Year Donatella style. Thank you @donatella_versace for the spectacular dinner at @claridgeshotel.
“We love you. La Famiglia Forever! All the F-J’s want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!” (sic)
The 70-year-old Italian designer stood at the centre of the shot with her arm around 12-year-old Elijah, whilst his elder brother Zachary, 14, positioned himself beside his 78-year-old father.
Followers responded enthusiastically to the unexpected family portrait, with comments flooding in praising how grown-up the boys appeared.
“The F-J family looking sharp. Happy New Year to you all,” one fan remarked, whilst another wrote: “Wonderful. Your boys are certainly growing up. What handsome young men. Happy New Year.”
For years, the couple had deliberately avoided publishing clear images of Zachary and Elijah, opting instead to photograph them facing away from the lens or with their features obscured.
Elton John shared the snap of his sons on Instagram
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This approach appeared designed to safeguard their children’s privacy despite the family’s considerable fame.
Earlier in 2025, Sir Elton shared a photograph from a Watford FC match where he and his sons wore personalised jerseys whilst standing with their backs to the camera, arms wrapped around one another.
The Windsor-based couple welcomed their firstborn, Zachary Jackson Furnish-John, on Christmas Day 2010 through a surrogate in California.
At the time, they released a statement declaring: “We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment. Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents.”
David Furnish and Elton John
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PA
Their second son, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, arrived in January 2013 via the same surrogate mother in Los Angeles. The couple announced: “The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way.”
Both boys served as ring bearers when their fathers married in December 2014, having initially entered a civil partnership in 2005.
The couple celebrated two decades since their civil partnership last month.
The legendary performer stepped back from touring to dedicate more time to his family. Speaking in November 2024, he told Andy Cohen: “For me personally, I’ve had an amazing life, great career.
Elton John has been struggling with his health of late
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GETTY“Incredible achievements, music, blah, blah, blah, but I would say that our sons, and David, are the most important things to me.”
He added: “That’s why I came off the road, to be able to spend the latter part of my life being there for them.”
In a letter published by Time magazine for his 75th birthday in 2022, Sir Elton wrote: “Zachary and Elijah, you two are the greatest gifts I have ever been given.
“You have filled my heart with love and my life with purpose and meaning in ways I didn’t think were possible. You are my proudest achievements, and I love you both so, so much.”
The singer has faced significant health difficulties recently, having contracted a severe eye infection in July 2024 that left him blind in his right eye with limited vision in his left.