Sir Elton John has delayed his upcoming European and UK tour dates so he can have an operation on his injured hip following a fall.

The 74-year-old singer said it was with “great sadness and a heavy heart” that those Farewell Yellow Brick Road concerts would be put back until 2023.

He had been due to play cities in Britain and on the continent this year, followed by US shows in 2022.

But he said a fall on a hard surface in late summer left him in pain.

His schedule had already been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sir Elton will start gigging again in January 2022 in New Orleans and will continue to play until summer 2023.

The tour had previously been touted as his last.

In a post on social media, the singer said: “At the end of my summer break I fell awkwardly on a hard surface and have been in considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since.

“Despite intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain has continued to get worse and is leading to increasing difficulties moving.

“I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications.

“I will be undertaking a programme of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and a return to full mobility without pain.”

However, the veteran musician is still set to feature at the charitable Global Citizen event on 25 September.

He said: “Being just five songs it’s a very different physical undertaking to the demands of playing for close to three hours every night on tour and travelling overnight between countries.

“After this I will be having the operation to ensure the tour can get back on the road in January of 2022 in New Orleans.

“I know how patient my incredible fans have been since COVID halted touring last year, and it breaks my heart to keep you waiting any longer.

“I completely feel your frustrations after the year we’ve had.

“I promise you this, the shows will return to the road next year and I will make sure they are more than worth the wait.”

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The 74-year-old’s latest album – The Lockdown Sessions – is due to be released on 22 October.

It features 16 songs and was recorded remotely, with guests including Dua Lipa, Gorillaz, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Stevie Wonder and Stevie Nicks.