Stars line up at Elton John's party after civil vows

London - Stars from the world of pop, fashion and sport danced into the wee hours Thursday at a lavish party to celebrate the 'civil partnership' union between British pop musician Sir Elton John and filmmaker David Furnish. British music star Sir Elton John (R) and partner David Furnish, a Canadian film maker are all smiles as they leave the Guildhall Windsor, in Berkshire, west of London, after their civil wedding ceremony. Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 gay marriages can take place in England giving homosexuals similar rights to heterosexual married couples. EPA/HUGO PHILPOTT

British music star Sir Elton John (R) and partner David Furnish, a Canadian film maker are all smiles as they leave the Guildhall Windsor, in Berkshire, west of London, after their civil wedding ceremony. Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 gay marriages can take place in England giving homosexuals similar rights to heterosexual married couples. EPA/HUGO PHILPOTTEx-Beatle Ringo Starr, Victoria Beckham, Joan Collins, German model Claudia Schiffer and former German tennis champion Boris Becker were among the 700 guests at Sir Elton's mansion near Windsor, southwest of London. English cricket captain Michael Vaughn and singer James Blunt were also there. Sir Elton, aged 58, and the Canadian filmmaker, who have lived together for 12 years, were one of the first of 700 gay and lesbian couples who tied the knot across England and Wales on Wednesday, in accordance with a new law allowing 'civil partnerships' between same- sex couples. © 2005 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur