Elton John marries David Furnish at their Windsor estate

Elton John and David Furnish have been officially married, exactly nine years after they had their civil partnership ceremony.

The veteran musician married his partner on Sunday at their Windsor estate with a number of stars expected to attend the celebrations, a spokesman has confirmed.

Gay marriages became possible in England and Wales for the first time in March. Prime Minister David Cameron hailed the introduction as a "historic day" as many leapt at the chance to tie the knot.

In an interview for US TV in March this year, Elton said: “We’ll do it very quietly. But we will do it and it will be a joyous occasion and we will have our children.”

He added: “For this legislation to come through is joyous, and we should celebrate it. We shouldn’t just say ‘Oh, well, we have a civil partnership, we’re not going to bother to get married’. We will get married.”

During the interview for NBC’s Today programme, Furnish said of the anticipation from their circle of friends: “The phone’s been ringing off the hook.”

Elton has taken to social media to post updates about their "big day", including a photo on Instagram of himself, pen in hand, sitting next to Furnish at a desk, with a piece of paper in front of them, and the caption: "That's the legal bit done. Now on to the ceremony! #ShareTheLove David Furnish"

On Saturday, he used Twitter to direct people to the couple’s Instagram accounts where he said they would be sharing “special moments” from their wedding.

The Tiny Dancer singer has posted snaps on the photo-sharing website, including an image of a wedding invitation emblazoned with red roses which confirms the wedding date is December 21st.

In a post next to the photograph, Elton says he and Furnish “will be posting special moments from our big day”.

On Sunday morning, he posted a photograph taken at a window showing a garden, and wrote: “Good morning! Nice day for a wedding. #ShareTheLove”

On Saturday night, the star posted a photograph of two pairs of shoes sitting at a fire, and wrote: “Our little ring bearers are fast asleep and their shoes are polished and ready for tomorrow’s celebration. DavidFurnish #ShareTheLove”

The famous couple have two toddler sons called Zachary and Elijah.

On December 21st 2005, they had their civil partnership ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall, and a number of stars joined the celebrations that day, including Victoria Beckham, Helena Bonham Carter and Michael Caine.

That service took place in the same venue where the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall got married.

The pair first met in 1993 when a mutual friend invited British Canadian film-maker Furnish to dinner with the rock legend.

With Furnish by his side, Elton has hosted star-studded bashes and raised huge sums for his Aids Foundation.

PA