She is probably the best in the world at grinning and bearing it

Elton John on the Queen's reaction to pop

The video of the performance will be shown during his slot at the 3 June Jubilee gig as he is unable to attend in person.

Speaking from the Blue Drawing Room, Sir Elton praised the venue but said his memories of where he was during the Jubilee period in 1977 were hazy.

"I don't really remember - it was 25 years ago. I can't remember where I was, where was I 25 years ago?

"I don't think I was in the country."

Members of the public have applied for 12,000 free tickets to the Bank Holiday Monday event, which also stars Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Paul McCartney, Beach Boys star Brian Wilson and Pop Idol Will Young.

'Maori dancing'

Sir Elton said he thought the Queen would be grinning and bearing the pop concert.

"I don't know how much the Queen likes pop music.

"She grins and bears it. She is probably the best in the world at grinning and bearing it and every occasion whether its maori dancing or pop music."

It will be a shame that the Queen Mother can't be there

Sir Elton

But he said despite possessing a "lethal, dry sense of humour" the Queen was always very generous about performances.

"She understands what a perfomer has to go through.

"I feel so sorry for her she when she goes to all these different countries, has to stand there and watch things and she must be bored out of her mind half the time.

"She might have been bored out of her mind when she was watching me but she never lets on and that's because she is such a professional."

'Intimidating' audience

Sir Elton said he had felt "intimidated" when he had played for royalty previously.

"I've played at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday.

"It was intimidating... we were due to go on stage and we saw all these gold empty chairs and we knew that was where the royal family were coming in."

The singer spoke warmly of the time he had spent with Princess Margaret, a fellow piano player, and of being taught a Highland reel by the Queen Mother.

"It will be a shame that the Queen Mother can't be there and Princess Margaret but I think the celebration will be even warmer because of those tragic deaths."

Increased sympathy

He said people had been too rash to write off the monarchy in a "tradition-loving country".

"The Queen is a remarkable person... a very steadfast woman who takes her role as queen very, very seriously.

"She will be very pleased that people from my generation and the younger generation will come out there and perform because they want to.

"People's sympathy towards her will be far greater this year."