Sir Elton John has paid a gushing tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at his concert in Toronto.
"We have the saddest news about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth," he said from the stage.
"She was an inspiring person to be around — I've been around her and she was fantastic.
"She led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine care and warmth.
"I'm almost 75 — she's been with me all my life and I feel very sad that she won't be with me anymore.
"But I'm glad she's at peace, and I'm glad she's at rest, and she deserves it because she's worked bloody hard."
"I send my love to her family and her loved ones.
"She will be missed, but her spirit lives on and we celebrate her life tonight with music — okay?" footage posted online from the concert showed reported John as saying.
The 74-year-old then launched into his 1974 hit, 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me'.
Queen Elizabeth II died "peacefully" at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday (local time), the Royal Family confirmed in a statement.
Her eldest child and heir apparent, Charles, is now King Charles III.
