Ed Sheeran declares 'I love this man' in moving speech praising music legend Elton John

Music sensation declared his love for the music legend during a moving speech at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards on Wednesday, October 9.

Sir Elton was presented with the The Legacy Award, supported by Virgin Atlantic, by his pal . This is the second time in 13 years the award has been handed out. It was previously picked up by back in 2017, to mark the occasion of 20 years since his mother, Diana, died.

Before the 77-year-old took the the stage to accept his award Ed Sheeran shared a few moving words with the crowd.

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The 'A Team' singer said: "Wherever the great are gathered, from Park Lane to Hollywood Boulevard, there are awards to be found for icons, legends or lifetime achievement. All of them are worthy, many extraordinary. Attitude's Legacy Award supported by Virgin Atlantic, presented tonight for only the second time in 13 years hits harder.

"It honours not only a body of work, however impressive, not simply a career blessed with longevity however stellar, not even a life devoted to a cause however worthy. A legacy endures its some total of every day lived, by accident or by design as an example of the best any one of us can be.

"Unashamed and unapologetic, our winners legacy may well take in three hundred million record sales over six decades, a tour schedule akin to perpetual motion for 53 years and a breathtaking 600 million to help the fight towards HIV and AIDS. But just as importantly, for Attitude and the entire LGBTQ+ community, his extraordinary life lived in the public gaze and all that it entails has shown every one of us, who you love doesn't matter.

"What matters is that you find love, love that you deserve. Love is always the answer and heaven knows, I love this man."

But after his brief appearance on stage, Elton used a chair to aid him while posing for pictures with his gong. Accepting the gong, Elton said: "I'm very humbled by this award, it means a lot as a gay man," he went on to thank those in the audience at Camden's Roundhouse before saying it had been a "long journey" for him. "With lots of ups and downs," he commented. Reflecting on his six-decade long career, he said: "I'm married to my work, I love music. Music saved me when I was happy, it saved me when I was miserable."

. He was also seen using crutches when he attended the funeral of Kate Garraway's husband, in February this year. Just this month, Sir Elton joked there wasn't "much of him left" in a candid admission. Attending the premiere of his new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, he said he had "no tonsils, adenoids or an appendix." He added: "I don't have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee. In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip. But I'm still here."

Attitude Mag took to Instagram to congratulate Elton on his win, and fans took to the comments section to share their love and support. One wrote: "Congratulations you’re an absolutely amazing and wonderful person and artist you deserve this amazing award!!! Keep being the amazing person you are Elton!" Another wrote: "What an icon."

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