Dec 6, 2005, 11:17 GMT
London- British rock musician Elton John is 'ecstatic' at the prospect of sealing his long-term gay relationship with filmmaker David Furnish in a civil ceremony on December 21, it was reported Tuesday.
Pop star Sir Elton John (L) and his partner David Furnish (R) have a smile for photographers as they arrive in Rome on Friday, 02 September 2005. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead announced Monday, 05 December 2005, that Elton John and his long term partner David Furnish would formalise their relationship in a civil partnership ceremony on 21 December at the Guildhall where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles got married. EPA/ROBERTO TEDESCHI
Sir Elton, 58, and Canadian-born Furnish, will exchange vows at Windsor Guildhall - before the same registrar who married Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in April.
The gay superstar and his partner were among 1,000 gay and lesbian couples who registered their intention to form a 'civil partnership' under new British laws Monday.
The first day they can legally become a couple is December 21.
A Guildhall official told the Sun newspaper: 'I spoke to them and they are ecstatic'.
The 13-year-relationship between Furnish and the gay superstar will be sealed by Clair Williams, the same registrar who married the heir to the British throne and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, on April 9.
Williams said: 'We are delighted that Sir Elton and Mr Furnish have chosen to have their civil partnership ceremony in the Royal Borough and we will do our utmost to ensure that the ceremony is a very special and private occasion for them and their guests.'
While the ceremony is to be a private event, fans are expected to line the narrow streets of Windsor hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple.
The ceremony will be attended by Sir Elton's mother and stepfather, and Furnish's parents as witnesses, said The Sun.
Afterwards, there will be a lavish bash at Sir Elton's Old Windsor mansion for 700 guests including Rod Stewart, Liz Hurley and Victoria Beckham, the paper added.
The pair had asked guests to donate to the Aids Foundation instead of giving presents.
The Sun said the rock star had turned down a magazine offer worth 6 million pounds (10 million dollars) for his wedding photos to be published, saying that his love for David was 'too sacred to be subject to a tacky price tag'.
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