Elton John and David Furnish Share Heartwarming Family Tradition with Sons at Every Meal

Elton John and David Furnish, devoted parents to sons Zachary and Elijah, make every mealtime a treasured family ritual, free from the distractions of modern devices. Speaking with River Cafe owner Ruthie Rogers on her podcast Ruthie’s Table 4, David shared the family’s commitment to quality time around the dinner table, saying, “Meals are sacred. So, no phones at the table. No television on in the background.” Instead, meals are focused on conversation, connection, and catching up on each other’s lives in their busy household, reported by the Express.

David emphasized how this tradition became especially meaningful during the lockdown, when they were together for three meals a day, sharing stories and bonding over shared experiences. “We talked all the time about what was going on in the world, told funny stories, or learned about each other’s history,” he recalled, adding that food played an essential role in bringing the family together.

On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Elton once described his children as “the greatest thing in our lives,” expressing immense gratitude for their family. Reflecting on the unexpected joy of parenthood, he shared, “If you’d said to me 10 years ago I’d be sitting on your show married to the man I love and have two beautiful children, I would have said, ‘You put acid in my drink.’” He continued, “There’s no words to describe how much we love these boys. They’re just amazing.”

In the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, Elton revealed that his sons have expressed worry about his mortality. “They love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever, [and] I would love to be around forever,” he said. Elton also expressed his desire to witness milestones in his sons’ lives, such as marriage and having children, but acknowledged, “I don’t think I’m going to be around for that…So that’s why I want to use the best of my time while I’m around.”

The couple welcomed their first son, Zachary Jackson Levon, on December 25, 2010, via surrogate in California. A huge football fan, Zachary often joins Elton at Watford FC games, a team Elton supported as chair from 1976 to 2002. In 2018, Elton shared a joyful photo of them cheering on Watford from the stands. Their second son, Elijah Joseph Daniel, arrived on January 11, 2013, also via surrogate. Like his brother, Elijah shares a love for football, and the family enjoys watching England’s national team together, as Elton documented in a 2021 photo.

For Elton and David, family meals and shared experiences are a source of love and joy, making every moment together with their sons truly precious.