Glastonbury Festival 2023 is officially underway after Emily Eavis threw open the gates this morning (June 21). At 8am, Emily, daughter of Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis, welcomed revellers to the five-day music, activism and culture extravaganza at Worthy Farm.
It was the moment everyone has been waiting for since the conclusion of the first post-pandemic Festival last June. Emily was met with cheers and rounds of applause as she emerged from behind the gate and announced, "Welcome to Glastonbury!"
Emily stood in for her dad, who usually opens the gates on the Wednesday of Glastonbury, after he was spotted in a wheelchair last week. She then encouraged excited revellers to join her in counting down from ten, with the first festivalgoers trickling through the gates at the end of the countdown.
But whilst 87-year-old Michael, who founded the first Glastonbury back in 1970, didn't open the gates, he was sat in a red Land Rover nearby as his daughter did the honours. When asked about her father by reporters, Emily said: "He’s over there – he's still very much here.
"He’s going to be waving everybody in. He’s doing really well. He had a late night last night."
Emily revealed her legend of a dad had been at the National Portrait Gallery in London, unveiling a painting. "He’s been out, we've all been here, heads down… he’s been off to London to a gallery opening."
Fans of the Glastonbury Festival co-founder were left feeling concerned after photographs of him in a wheelchair were taken last week. Michael and his family gathered on June 15 to celebrate the completion of a further 20 social rent homes in Pilton, bringing the total number of affordable homes built on land donated by Michael to 52.
Gary Lineker opened the social housing, and was pictured shaking hands and posing with Michael and his family. Following photographs being shared from the event, some concerned fans noticed he was in a wheelchair. One person wrote on Twitter: "Didn't know Michael Eavis was in a wheelchair now."
Another said: "Bit sad to see Michael in a wheelchair though."
A third penned: "Only just noticed that Michael is in a wheelchair. Is he ok?"
This year's Glastonbury Festival is being headlined by Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses, and Lizzo.
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