Elton John & David Furnish

London, April 25 (Reuters): British pop star Elton John intends to marry his long term partner David Furnish some time this year or in 2006, his publicist said today.

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.

Farrow 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 from December 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.