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Royal ceremony: Sir Elton ties knot

Pop star Elton John and his longtime partner, David Furnish, take advantage of a new British law and join together in a civil union.

By wire services
Published December 22, 2005

WINDSOR, England - Elton John and longtime love David Furnish became one of England's first legally bound gay couples Wednesday in a low-key ceremony followed by a celebrity-studded bash.

John, 58, and Furnish, 43, were among hundreds of same-sex couples taking advantage of a new British law offering them a legal status similar to marriage. The law took effect Wednesday in England and Wales. Ceremonies were held earlier this week in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

John and Furnish's 30-minute ceremony was conducted at the Guildhall, where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles wed in April, and it was conducted by Registrar Clair Williams, who also presided over the union between Charles and Camilla.

The ceremony was attended by John's mother, Sheila, and stepfather, Fred; Furnish's parents, Gladys and Jack; a small group of friends, and the couple's dog, Arthur.

The ceremony was "very emotional," said British video artist Sam Taylor-Wood, who was in charge of Arthur.

"Everyone clapped," said Jay Jopling, a London art gallery owner. "And, of course, they kissed at the end."

On a cold, wet morning, fans turned up before sunrise in the cobbled streets around Windsor's town hall. Cameras flickered as John and Furnish, wearing bands on their left-hand ring fingers, walked out arm-in-arm, waving to the crowd, some of whom threw rice.

John and Furnish, a Canadian filmmaker, continued to wave to well-wishers and the media. John blew kisses and mouthed "Thank you" to fans. He put a hand on Furnish's shoulder as the crowd applauded.

Two young women dressed in tiaras and feather boas broke through the police cordon to present them with an apple ice-cream cake. Philippa Marshall, from New Zealand, said the cake, dubbed Applely Ever After, was made especially for them.

"(John) said, "What is this?' " Marshall told the BBC. "We told him what it was, and he just put his hand to his heart and said, "Oh, I'm so touched. Thanks so much.' "

Asked by onlookers how the ceremony went, John said: "Great, thanks."

The couple drove off in a black Rolls Royce for lunch with their families.

Wednesday night, John and Furnish hosted a reception reported to cost about $1.75-million at their London mansion. More than 700 people were invited, including Sharon Osbourne, actor-model Elizabeth Hurley and fashion designer Donatella Versace. Two white tents were set up on the mansion's grounds, and pink champagne and lamb was scheduled to be served.

John asked people to donate money to his AIDS charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, instead of buying presents.

John and Furnish have been together for 12 years. John was married to Renate Blauel, a German studio engineer, from 1984-87.

The Associated Press, Bloomberg News, the BBC and Sky News contributed to this report.

[Last modified December 22, 2005, 00:58:15]