Sir Elton John has accepted £100,000 libel damages in the High Court over allegations he issued a "bizarre and absurd edict" to guests at his annual charity ball ordering them not to approach him during the event.


At a hearing in London, a judge was told that the proceedings related to articles published by the Daily Mail last June. The star's solicitor-advocate Nigel Tait said that following a complaint from Sir Elton's lawyers, the Daily Mail promptly published an apology to him.


Mr Tait told Mr Justice Eady:

"The articles falsely alleged that Sir Elton had issued a bizarre and absurd edict to guests invited to his annual charity fundraising White Tie and Tiara summer ball ordering them not to approach him during that event, thereby acting like old-fashioned royalty or some tinpot dictator and exhibiting self-important, arrogant and rude behaviour bordering on paranoia.

In fact, not only was no such edict issued at all, Sir Elton greets each guest as they arrive and is well-known for chatting to as many people as possible who attend the ball, not least to thank them for helping him with his fundraising efforts."

Sir Elton is donating the damages to the Elton John Aids Foundations, which have raised 100 million US dollars for charitable purposes throughout the world.