Sir Elton John has been named as the "father" on official documents for his son Zachary born via a surrogate.
David Furnish and Elton John Photo: GETTY
His civil partner David Furnish has been named as the "mother" on computer documentation for Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John.
The child was born on Christmas Day to a surrogate mother in California at a cost of more than £100,000.
It has been speculated that Mr Furnish, 48, is the sperm provider for the surrogacy because he is the younger of the two men.
Birth certificates in gay surrogacy cases can be changed from "mother" and "father" to Parent 1 and Parent 2 on request.
Although the birth has not been registered on a certificate yet Sir Elton, 63, and Mr Furnish appear as father...
and mother respectively on computer documentation, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
and mother respectively on computer documentation, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
Sir Elton has described how “blessed and lucky” he feels following the birth of his baby son, just weeks before he embarks on a six-month world tour.
Newborn Zachary is expected to be brought up largely by childcare staff who have reportedly been stationed in each of Sir Elton’s homes.
But Sir Elton told American magazine Us Weekly: "For many years we have talked about fulfilling one of our greatest wishes by becoming parents.
“And now this wish has been granted to us, we feel so blessed and lucky."
The 63-year-old singer and his partner David Furnish, 48, faced questions over their decision to have a surrogate son having previously admitted that their lives were not suited to having children.
Norman Wells, director of Family and Youth Concern, said: “There is a concern that the child will be treated as a commodity.
“The amount of travelling they do does raise the question as to why they would want a child if they are not going to be at home to care for it.”
Josephine Quintavalle, founder of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: “People sit down and discuss at length the ideal protocol in relation to adoption and there is no hesitation in giving age limits, so why does that thinking go out of the window when talking about surrogacy?
“We should be thinking about the rights of children and not the rights of adults to have whatever they want. People are willing to criticise the older mother but fathers seem to get off lightly.”
But many said that as long as the parents were healthy and could provide for their son, the baby would be happy.
Hugh McLachlan, Professor of Law and Social Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “When people become parents they change their lifestyles.
“Although the circumstances here are unusual, they are not that out of the ordinary and will not necessarily present a problem.
“There is every reason to think that this will be a loved and happy child.”
Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born on Christmas Day.
Sir Elton and Mr Furnish are believed to have paid more than £100,000 to have the baby, through The Centre for Surrogate Parenting Inc, which runs one of the largest surrogacy programmes in California.
It is understood that the unidentified surrogate mother is not his biological mother but had carried the baby after being implanted with a donor egg from another woman.
It is believed the new fathers are planning to bring their son back to their UK home in Windsor, where a £35,000 nursery has already been built.
But Sir Elton will soon be headed off on a 26-date tour of Europe and the US, meaning that the baby will likely be looked after by staff.
Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director and research clinician at Midland Fertility Services, said that the welfare of the child was the primary concern.
"Yes, the child may be looked after by staff but any temporary absence will doubtless be more than compensated," she said.
"They will probably be better parents then those who become parents accidentally. Couples who resort to fertility treatment have made it quite clear that their intentions are good."
Dr Magdy Asaad, from the London Fertility Centre, said: “As long as the parents are healthy and they can support the child emotionally, educate and provide for it then who is to say they should not.”
Just last year, Mr Furnish indicated that they would wait to start a family until Sir Elton had stopped touring.
“I don't think our lives are suited to raising children,” he told People magazine. "We're busy flying places all the time.
“We don't want to put the raising of children into the hands of nannies and housekeepers. We want to be active parents. We have godchildren (and) kids that we support in Africa, so we're fine.”
Dr Sandra Wheatley, a psychologist specialising in parenting and families, said sacrifices would undoubtedly be made.
“Intentions and actions are not always the same thing,” she said.
"The arrival of a baby means that lifestyles do change. If they are happy, the baby will be happy.
“It has obviously been a considered decision and something that they feel they can fulfil."
Newborn Zachary is expected to be brought up largely by childcare staff who have reportedly been stationed in each of Sir Elton’s homes.
But Sir Elton told American magazine Us Weekly: "For many years we have talked about fulfilling one of our greatest wishes by becoming parents.
“And now this wish has been granted to us, we feel so blessed and lucky."
The 63-year-old singer and his partner David Furnish, 48, faced questions over their decision to have a surrogate son having previously admitted that their lives were not suited to having children.
Norman Wells, director of Family and Youth Concern, said: “There is a concern that the child will be treated as a commodity.
“The amount of travelling they do does raise the question as to why they would want a child if they are not going to be at home to care for it.”
Josephine Quintavalle, founder of Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: “People sit down and discuss at length the ideal protocol in relation to adoption and there is no hesitation in giving age limits, so why does that thinking go out of the window when talking about surrogacy?
“We should be thinking about the rights of children and not the rights of adults to have whatever they want. People are willing to criticise the older mother but fathers seem to get off lightly.”
But many said that as long as the parents were healthy and could provide for their son, the baby would be happy.
Hugh McLachlan, Professor of Law and Social Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “When people become parents they change their lifestyles.
“Although the circumstances here are unusual, they are not that out of the ordinary and will not necessarily present a problem.
“There is every reason to think that this will be a loved and happy child.”
Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born on Christmas Day.
Sir Elton and Mr Furnish are believed to have paid more than £100,000 to have the baby, through The Centre for Surrogate Parenting Inc, which runs one of the largest surrogacy programmes in California.
It is understood that the unidentified surrogate mother is not his biological mother but had carried the baby after being implanted with a donor egg from another woman.
It is believed the new fathers are planning to bring their son back to their UK home in Windsor, where a £35,000 nursery has already been built.
But Sir Elton will soon be headed off on a 26-date tour of Europe and the US, meaning that the baby will likely be looked after by staff.
Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director and research clinician at Midland Fertility Services, said that the welfare of the child was the primary concern.
"Yes, the child may be looked after by staff but any temporary absence will doubtless be more than compensated," she said.
"They will probably be better parents then those who become parents accidentally. Couples who resort to fertility treatment have made it quite clear that their intentions are good."
Dr Magdy Asaad, from the London Fertility Centre, said: “As long as the parents are healthy and they can support the child emotionally, educate and provide for it then who is to say they should not.”
Just last year, Mr Furnish indicated that they would wait to start a family until Sir Elton had stopped touring.
“I don't think our lives are suited to raising children,” he told People magazine. "We're busy flying places all the time.
“We don't want to put the raising of children into the hands of nannies and housekeepers. We want to be active parents. We have godchildren (and) kids that we support in Africa, so we're fine.”
Dr Sandra Wheatley, a psychologist specialising in parenting and families, said sacrifices would undoubtedly be made.
“Intentions and actions are not always the same thing,” she said.
"The arrival of a baby means that lifestyles do change. If they are happy, the baby will be happy.
“It has obviously been a considered decision and something that they feel they can fulfil."
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