Music icon Sir Elton John has delighted fans by breaking a long-standing family tradition, sharing a rare photograph that reveals the faces of his two teenage sons for the first time on social media.
A New Year's Revelation
The 78-year-old singer and his husband, artist David Furnish, 63, marked New Year's Eve by posting a candid family snapshot from a celebratory dinner at London's luxurious Claridge's hotel. The image features the couple alongside their sons, Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, and their longtime friend, Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace, 70.
For years, the showbiz couple have meticulously protected their children's privacy, typically sharing images where the boys' faces were obscured or they were pictured from behind. This post, captioned by David Furnish, marked a significant departure from that norm. "Ringing in the New Year Donatella style," he wrote. "Thank you @donatella_versace for the spectacular dinner... We love you. La Famiglia Forever!"
Celebrating a Growing Family
Elton John and David Furnish, who celebrated 20 years of civil partnership in December 2025, became parents via surrogate. Their first son, Zachary, was born on Christmas Day 2010 in California, with Elijah following in January 2013 via the same surrogate mother in Los Angeles.
The pair have consistently described fatherhood as their greatest achievement. In a moving letter published in Time magazine for his 75th birthday in 2022, Elton wrote to his boys: "You two are the greatest gifts I have ever been given... You are my proudest achievements." Both sons served as ring bearers at their parents' 2014 winter wedding.
Fan Reaction and a Cherished Privacy
The unexpected reveal was met with an outpouring of joy from fans on Instagram. Comments praised the "handsome young men" and wished the "F-J family" a happy new year. This glimpse contrasts with the couple's usual approach; past shared moments, like a 2022 trip to watch Elton's beloved Watford FC, showed the family from behind.
This conscious decision to shield their children's lives from the public eye underscores the value the star places on family normality. In the 2024 documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, the singer spoke emotionally about his sons, saying, "They love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever... Time together is so wonderful and so precious." The New Year's post offers a cherished, and rare, window into that precious family life for the music legend.
