Elton sets wedding date

Flamboyant rocker Elton John is set to marry for the second time on December 21 - making an honest man of his long-term love David Furnish.

The bespectacled star was previously married to Renate Blauel from 1984 until 1987, before he came out as homosexual years later.

The Rocket Man singer and Canadian film-maker Furnish began dating in 1993.

After months of speculation about the rocker's big day, John admitted they have decided to marry on the same day same-sex marriage ceremonies become legal in Britain.

The Civil Partnership Bill will become UK law on December 5, when same-sex couples will be able to register their intention to marry. After waiting a 15-day 'cooling off' period, couples can legally wed.

On Brit TV network ITV's GM:TV show yesterday, John gushed: "The first date we can get married is the 21st. We are definitely going to do it and we're not going to do it in secret."

John and Furnish expect to wed in a star-studded ceremony in their Windsor, Berkshire home, with celebrity guests including Liz Hurley and Victoria Beckham.