--- title: Elton John Criticizes Coverage of Harry, Meghan's Vacation description: Elton John is clapping back at "malicious" press attention on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after their vacation at the singer's home. canonical: https://time.com/5655586/prince-harry-meghan-markle-elton-john-vacation/ author: Rachel E. Greenspan article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-08-19T19:42:18.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:06:30.794Z og:title: Elton John Criticizes 'Malicious' Coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's French Vacation og:description: 'I am deeply distressed by today's distorted and malicious account,' John said og:url: https://time.com/5655586/prince-harry-meghan-markle-elton-john-vacation/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt158f3f2cea037852/698a01a6b3fce3fdfd0c5693/elton-john-harry-meghan.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3127 og:image:height: 1759 og:image:alt: Elton John Supports Prince Harry, Meghan Markle og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Elton John Criticizes 'Malicious' Coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's French Vacation twitter:description: 'I am deeply distressed by today's distorted and malicious account,' John said twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt158f3f2cea037852/698a01a6b3fce3fdfd0c5693/elton-john-harry-meghan.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 02:40 video:published: 2019-05-08 section: entertainment topics: royal family, newborn baby, new parenthood, family introductions, baby's appearance, calm temperament, well wishes from the public genre: interview, celebrity news, photo call tones: warm, joyful, grateful, light, personal emotions: joy (high), gratitude (medium), affection (high), tiredness (low) sentiment: positive audience: royal watchers, new parents, celebrity news readers, general news audiences people: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Rory organizations: the Royal family transcript_source: automatic transcription transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Elton John Criticizes 'Malicious' Coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's French Vacation > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Ally. Ally is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: July 2026. ## Ally: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Ally is a digital financial services company offering online-only banking, including checking and savings accounts, through Ally.com and its mobile apps. Launched in 2009 as an original disruptor in financial services, Ally was built to challenge outdated banking norms with a simpler, more convenient way to bank. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Just Stepped Out With Their Royal Baby [Watch (HLS stream): Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Just Stepped Out With Their Royal Baby](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/clZgS99X.m3u8) (2:40)  _Published 2019-05-08. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Just Stepped Out With Their Royal Baby._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with their newborn son, are interviewed and photographed outside a hospital shortly after the birth. Meghan describes new parenthood as magical and says the baby has a calm temperament and sleeps well. They discuss who the baby resembles and the first days of parenting. The couple mention they are heading to see the Queen and the Duke, and the baby is shown briefly to the camera. ## Key points - Meghan says becoming a new mum is magic and that she has the two best guys in the world. (00:40) - Meghan describes the baby as having the sweetest temperament, being very calm, and being a dream so far. (00:56) - The parents say they cannot yet determine who the baby takes after, and his looks are changing every day. (01:12) - Meghan says it has been only two and a half or three days since the birth. (01:32) - The couple say they are heading to see the Queen and the Duke, and they bumped into the Duke while walking. (01:49) - Meghan says introducing the baby to family is a nice moment and that her mom is with them. (02:00) - The baby is shown briefly to the camera, and he already has a little facial hair. (02:16) - Meghan thanks everyone for their well wishes and kindness, saying it means so much. (02:28) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:30] Photo call with the new parents. Prince Harry and Meghan pose for the cameras and smile for the photographers. - [00:30 to 01:12] Meghan on motherhood and the baby. Meghan describes becoming a mum and the baby's calm temperament and sleep. - [01:12 to 01:49] Who the baby resembles. The couple say they cannot yet tell who the baby looks like as his features change daily. - [01:49 to 02:10] Plans to visit the Queen and the Duke. The couple mention their upcoming visit to the Queen and the Duke and a chance meeting with the Duke. - [02:10 to 02:40] Showing the baby and closing thanks. The baby is shown briefly and Meghan thanks the public for their well wishes. ## Key quotes - [00:40] Meghan: "It's magic, it's pretty amazing and I mean I have the two best guys in the world so I'm really happy" - [00:56] Meghan: "Yes, he has the sweetest temperament, he's really calm and he's just been the dream so it's been a special couple days." - [01:12] Meghan: "We still couldn't figure that out." - [01:38] Meghan: "We're just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy and be able to spend some precious times with him as he slowly starts to grow up." - [02:28] Meghan: "Thank you and thank you everybody for the well wishes and the kindness. It just means so much." ## Questions this video answers - What is it like becoming a new mum? [00:30] - What is the baby like, and is he sleeping well? [00:49] - Who does the baby take after? [01:09] - How do the parents find parenting generally? [01:28] - Where are the couple going after the interview? [01:49] - What does the baby look like? [02:13] by [Rachel E. Greenspan](https://time.com/author/rachel-e-greenspan/) ## Rachel E. Greenspan Aug 19, 2019 7:42 PM UTC  Sir Elton John attends the European Premiere of Disney's "The Lion King" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England. Sir Elton John attends the European Premiere of Disney's "The Lion King" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019 in London, England. Gareth Cattermole—Disney/Getty Images by [Rachel E. Greenspan](https://time.com/author/rachel-e-greenspan/) ## Rachel E. Greenspan Aug 19, 2019 7:42 PM UTC Sir Elton John spoke out against recent “malicious” press attention on [Meghan, Duchess of Sussex](https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2018-meghan-markle-runner-up/), and [Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex](https://time.com/5639022/prince-harry-jane-goodall/), during their private vacation at the singer’s home. Last week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took their son, [Archie](https://time.com/5615945/royal-baby-archie-christening-photos/), to stay in the Nice, France, home of John and his husband, [David Furnish](https://time.com/3643188/elton-john-david-furnish-marriage/). The trip soon [came under fire](https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9751518/meghan-markle-archie-harrison-private-jet-elton-john-france-prince-harry/) in British tabloids as photographs emerged of the royals disembarking a private jet. Publications like _The Mirror_ and _The Sun_ commented on the royals’ alleged environmental “hypocrisy” for using private jets and taxpayer-funded vacation flights. “I am deeply distressed by today’s distorted and malicious account in the press surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s private stay at my home in Nice last week,” the pop star said in an Instagram post and a series of tweets on Monday. > [](https://twitter.com/eltonofficial/status/1163479330632142848) John protested the tabloids’ characterization of the couple’s trip as well as the intrusion into their private lives. _The Sun_ said that the Duke and Duchess had “been accused of hypocrisy after recently speaking out about environmental issues, and then using private jets for their jaunts around Europe.” [_The Mirror_](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/meghan-markle-harry-archie-stay-18962672)also estimated that the flight to France “belched seven times the emissions per person compared to a commercial flight.” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are both activists for the environment, conservation and slowing the effects of climate change through charities and patronages. It’s because of this that Prince Harry recently drew criticism for reportedly taking a helicopter as he headed to a Google summit on climate change in Sicily, Italy. British Labour MP Teresa Pearce told _The Sun_ that the royals should “lead by example” on such issues and [_The Daily Mail_ said](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7313843/Prince-Harry-flew-private-jet-helicopter-Google-climate-change-camp.html) said some called him a hypocrite. John asserted that he and his husband had provided the plane for the royals — so presumably no taxpayer money was involved — and the planes used carbon-neutral fuel to minimize the environmental impacts. In his reaction, John also connected the press the couple received to [Prince Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana](https://time.com/4879138/diana-princess-remembered/), with whom the singer was close friends. He said: “I feel a profound sense of obligation to protect Harry and his family from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death.” Jurors ruled that [Princess Diana was “unlawfully killed”](https://time.com/4914324/princess-diana-anniversary-paparazzi-tabloid-media/) in an Aug. 31, 1997, Paris car collision because of her chauffeur’s driving and paparazzi in pursuit of her car. The media attention on the royal couple’s luxurious travels comes soon after reports that [renovations to their new home](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a28182137/meghan-markle-frogmore-cottage-renovation-cost-taxpayers/), [Frogmore Cottage](https://time.com/5637788/prince-harry-meghan-markle-neighbor-rules-rumors/) in Windsor, cost British taxpayers $3.05 million (£2.4 million). Still, according to [_Statista_](https://time.com/5614779/british-taxpayers-royal-family/), the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not have the highest travel expenses last year compared to other members of the British royal family. Their trip to Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji in October of 2018 was cheaper than three different trips taken by Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. To close his comments, John highlighted the Sussexes’ “commitment to charity” and requested that the press “cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5655586/prince-harry-meghan-markle-elton-john-vacation/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5655586/prince-harry-meghan-markle-elton-john-vacation/"},"headline":"Elton John Criticizes 'Malicious' Coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's French Vacation","datePublished":"2019-08-19T19:42:18.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T08:06:30.794Z","description":"'I am deeply distressed by today's distorted and malicious account,' the singer said","url":"https://time.com/5655586/prince-harry-meghan-markle-elton-john-vacation/","keywords":["Newsfeed","royals","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt158f3f2cea037852/698a01a6b3fce3fdfd0c5693/elton-john-harry-meghan.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rachel E. 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