Elton John and David Furnish to marry once again this weekend

The couple formed a Civil Partnership in 2005

David Furnish and Elton John pictured in 2013 (Getty)

Elton John is to wed his long-term partner David Furnish for the second time, following a new law which allows gay couples to convert their civil partnerships into marriages.

The singer's spokesman, Gary Farrow, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the weekend ceremony will be private.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in the UK since 29 March – a day that will go down in history as a landmark moment for a country that little more than a decade ago had a law banning the “promotion” of homosexuality.

However, the new law allowing gay couples to convert their civil partnerships only came into effect last week. The change simply requires a bit of paperwork, but many people decide to hold ceremonies to celebrate.

John and Furnish formed a civil partnership in 2005 and have two children, Zachary and Elijah.

Although civil partnerships give gay couples the same legal protections and rights as heterosexual married partners, they do not grant the label of marriage.

In March Furnish told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he couple planned to marry at some point.

“We don’t feel the need to take an extra step legally,” he said.

“But since we’re committed for life, we feel it’s really important to take that step, and take advantage of that amazing change in legislation. We all live by example.”

Britain is the 15th country to legalize same-sex marriage, which is also legal in several US states.