Elton John’s Teen Sons Show How Much They’ve Grown
Elton John and husband David Furnish recently shared a rare glimpse of their family with a new portrait obtained by People.
Their teenage sons, Zachary, 15, and Elijah, 13, looked effortlessly stylish in simple black T-shirts paired with matching black loafers. The intimate shoot took place in the family’s home library, capturing a candid moment of the star-studded household.
The family, pictured above on March 2, 2025, was captured in a rare portrait by renowned photographer Catherine Opie just three days before Christmas, in their home library.
Elton John, 78, looked effortlessly stylish in a dark purple suit paired with blue glasses and sneakers, while husband David Furnish, 63, opted for a green suit and light blue shirt. Their two Labradors, Joseph and Jacob, also joined the intimate shoot.
According to the UK’s The Telegraph, the portrait will be displayed at London’s National Portrait Gallery. John and Furnish shared their excitement with the outlet:
“To have our family photographed by Catherine Opie and on display at the National Portrait Gallery is a huge honor. We are huge admirers of her work and proud to have her beautiful and poignant images in our collection.
To have our family photographed by Catherine Opie and featured at the National Portrait Gallery is a huge honor,” John and Furnish told the UK’s The Telegraph.
Opie, meanwhile, described the experience as “truly an honor,” adding, “For me, it represents the humanity of what family can be.”
Victoria Siddall, director of the National Portrait Gallery, also commented on the portrait:
“It celebrates not only Sir Elton John’s extraordinary achievements in music but also the vital humanitarian and philanthropic work that he and David have undertaken in recent decades, and the family they have built together.”
“‘We are huge admirers of her work and proud to have her beautiful and poignant images in our collection,’ the couple continued, as seen in a 2011 photo of John holding baby Zachary.”
I can also create a slightly punchier version for social media and SEO that highlights both the family and the photographer. Do you want me to do that?
John and Furnish, pictured above in an Instagram photo, have been together for more than 30 years.
The couple first met through mutual friends in 1993 and entered a civil partnership in 2005. They later welcomed their two children via surrogate and officially married on December 21, 2014.
Reflecting on fatherhood during a 2016 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, John, the singer behind Tiny Dancer, called it “the greatest thing.”
He joked at the time, “If you’d told me 10 years ago I’d be sitting on your show married to the man I love with two beautiful children, I would have said, ‘You put acid in my drink.’”
John continued, “But life throws you challenges and curveballs — great curveballs — and these two children have come along at a time I never thought I’d have kids. There are no words to describe how much we love these boys. They’re just amazing.”
John, pictured with Furnish and Zachary in 2013, has previously described fatherhood as “the greatest thing.”
In 2019, the legendary musician revealed that he tries to leave his stage persona behind when he’s at home with his sons.
“They know what daddy does, but I never bring Elton home. I try to leave Elton on the stage,” John told reporters.
“They know that daddy is famous, but they’re quite grounded. They love their daddy’s music, but they also enjoy a lot of other artists’ songs.”
