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Sir Elton breaks silence on ex-wife and his 'huge guilt' for making her unhappy

Sir Elton John has been happily married to his long-term partner David Furnish for almost three years, after meeting the filmmaker 23 years ago.

But he has admitted that he feels huge guilt and regret over a time in his life when he pretended to be bisexual and married a woman, German sound engineer Renate Blauel, and caused her a lot of unhappiness.

Mackay preparing for start of Elton John regional Australia tour
Mackay preparing for start of Elton John regional Australia tour

The ‘Candle in the Wind’ singer tied the knot with Renate in Sydney, Australia, in 1984, but he admits the fact he had “denied who [he] really was” by going through with the ceremony caused so much “sadness” to a “wonderful woman”.

He clarified he was gay in 1988 after ending his four year marriage to Renate.

He said: “Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration. I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret.

“To be worthy of someone’s love, you have to be brave enough and clear eyed enough to be honest with yourself and your partner.”

The 70-year-old singer has spoken out to back marriage equality in Australia ahead of his tour Down Under and spoke of how proud he is that he and long-term partner David Furnish – who he wed in December 2014, nine years after their civil partnership ceremony – have been able to marry and have their relationship “accepted by the world”.

In a post on Instagram, he continued: “Almost 24 years ago, I met the person with whom I could be fully myself.

Elton proudly watches his sons play football (Instagram)
Elton proudly watches his sons play football (Instagram)

“When we married in 2014, it felt like that fact was accepted by the world.

“For David and I, being able to openly love and commit to one another, and for that to be recognised and celebrated is what makes life truly worth living.

“That acceptance and support makes us want to be as kind, responsible and productive members of society, as well as the best parents, that we can be.”

Sir Elton John says marriage to David Furnish gets ‘better and better’ ahead of 70th birthday
Sir Elton John says marriage to David Furnish gets ‘better and better’ ahead of 70th birthday

And the ‘Rocket Man’ singer – who has sons Zachary, six, and Elijah, with David – went on to urge Australia to legalise same-sex marriage.

He concluded: “I love Australia. I love its spirit, it’s lack of pretence, it’s passion. I hope it can embrace the honesty and courage that seeks gay marriage as an expression not of desire but of love. #loveislove #marriageequality (sic)”