Elton John planning civil marriage with long-term partner

LONDON - British pop star Elton John intends to marry his long term partner David Furnish some time this year or in 2006, his publicist said yesterday.

The singer told the Mirror tabloid that he and Furnish wanted to hold a civil partnership ceremony in Windsor, near London, in mid-December, although publicist Gary Farrow said John had added it could take place some time next year.

"He (John) said that it may be by Christmas and it may be next year," Farrow told Reuters.

He added that one of John's main motivations for going ahead with the ceremony was financial.

Civil partnerships between gay couples will be allowed in Britain starting Dec. 5 and give partners tax breaks available to married couples.

John, 58, and Furnish, 42, have been partners for more than 11 years. A website recently speculated the couple was splitting up, prompting Furnish to say that they had "never been happier."

John told the Mirror that Furnish should not expect many of the trappings of a regular marriage.

"There will be no honeymoon. I'm on tour," he said.

John has sold tens of millions of records worldwide and is best known for classic tracks including "Candle in the Wind" and "Rocket Man."

He has signed an agreement to perform 75 shows over three years in Las Vegas and also is touring the United States, Europe and Canada over the coming months.

John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, previously married German music engineer Renate Blauel in 1984. She and John divorced four years later.

- REUTERS