Sir Elton John has opened up about his close links with Britain's royal family, revealing he has danced with Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne, and once took Princess Margaret out on a date.

The Rocket Man hitmaker has long been a favoured pop star in the royal household and has performed at many high-profile events, including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert last year (12) and Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral in 1997.

Now he has spoken out about his ties to the British Establishment and recalled how the monarch once cut in on his dance with her daughter at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party in 1981.

He tells U.K. talk show host Graham Norton, "Princess Margaret and I became friends. I took her to the cinema once at the Odeon Kensington. We had a lovely time and then we went out to dinner and I took her home. Nothing happened of course!

"I also once danced with Princess Anne at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday and the Queen came over and said, 'May I join you?'. We danced to Bill Hayley's Rock Around the Clock. It was one of the most surreal moments of my life. Having been born in a council house in Pinner (near London) the chances of dancing with the Queen at Windsor Castle were pretty long."