Elton 'marriage' in Prince Charles wedding venue

LONDON - British pop star Elton John will "wed" his long term partner David Furnish at the same venue where heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in April in the royal town of Windsor.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead announced that the celebrity couple would formalise their 12-year relationship through a civil partnership ceremony on December 21 at the Guildhall, Windsor. 

Yesterday was the first day same-sex couples could register their partnership and take advantage of a law giving them legal status, although they must wait two weeks for it to take effect.

Council leader Mary Rose Gliksten welcomed John and Furnish to the 17th century Guildhall.

"Sir Elton and Mr Furnish are making a solemn and formal commitment to each other and our Guildhall offers them both dignity and privacy," she said on the borough's website.

"We wish them both much happiness for their important day."

John, 58, said last month that he wanted a small, private ceremony where the partners' parents would act as witnesses.

"But it is anticipated that many fans will converge on Windsor for the occasion," the borough warned.

"The Royal Borough is working with Thames Valley Police to ensure the event goes smoothly and that the town is disrupted as little as possible during this last busy shopping period before Christmas." John, one of the most successful solo artists of all time, previously married Renate Blauel in 1984 but they divorced four years later.

His publicist said earlier this year that one of the main reasons he wanted to formalise his relationship with Canadian-born Furnish was financial, with civil partnerships giving partners tax breaks available to married couples.

- REUTERS