Elton and David are united in civil partnership |
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Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:05
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WINDSOR: Pop star Elton John finally tied the knot with long-term partner David Furnish Wednesday, formalising their gay relationship as the law that legalised same sex civil partnershipsa in England came into force.
They exchanged vows and rings at a short civil ceremony at the Windsor's Guildhall, attended by just seven guests -- John's mother Sheila and stepfather Fred, Furnish's parents Gladys and Jack, photographer Sam Taylor-Wood and her husband, gallery owner Jay Jopling. John's black and white spaniel Arthur too was present. The superintendent registrar Clair Williams, assisted by Peter Edwards, a registrar, officiated the ceremony.
John had asked Taylor-Wood to take the marriage pics. She later said of the ceremony: "It was very normal." Jopling said, "There were tears. They kissed at the end. It was very, very happy. It was like any other couple getting married."
The ceremony over, the duo emerged to meet hundreds of cheering well wishers, mostly gay couples and members of the media, who had assembled to wish them well. "Thank you," said John to the crowds as he stood with his arm around his Canadian boy friend.
They were then presented with a wedding cake by two young women outside the Guildhall, which was earlier venue for the Prince Charles-Camilla Parker-Bowles marriage.
To the surprise of many, the two wore black morning suits for the wedding unlike the traditional white robes. Furnish, 43, a film producer, has been living with John, 58, for more than 12 years.
The Guildhall was decorated with roses, freesia and lilies and gentle harp music flowed.
The newlyweds left the register office arm-in-arm, blowing kisses to well-wishers. When asked how it was, John said: "Great, thanks."
They later hosted an evening party for 700 guests at John's Berkshire mansion. Among the celebrity guests were German tennis player Boris Becker and model Liz Hurley, who were caught in a traffic jam caused by limousines queuing in narrow lanes to reach the party, former Beatle Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne, Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace and Victoria Beckham, wife of England and Real Madrid football player David.
John, pop star with sales of 200 million records world-wide and with hits like "Your Song" and "Candle in the Wind", had earlier married Renate Blauel in 1984. The couple had divorced four years later.
Prime Minister Tony Blair wished well for the couple and said, "I wish him and David well, and all the other people exercising their rights under the civil partnerships law."
More than 700 gay couples are known to have tied the knots Wednesday, the first day that same-sex unions became legal in England and Wales, giving the partnerships new rights in areas such as employment, pension and inheritance. The ceremonies are not officially classed as "marriages". Other celebrity same-sex couples registering their unions included stage actor Antony Sher and director Greg Doran.
At Windsor, a handful of Christian groups denounced the new legislation, saying it is abomination and an affront to decency.
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