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Hearty congratulations to newlyweds Elton John and David Furnish, who finally got married yesterday after waiting for 12 long years for their union to be considered legal. However, I think someone might have forgotten to inform the BBC that their nuptials are officially, 100% above-board. Why else would there be quotation marks in every article surrounding the event? At a glance:

• Stars pack Elton 'wedding' party
  
• Thursday's newspapers revel in the "marriage" of Sir Elton John to long-term partner David Furnish.
  
• Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish become one of the first gay couples in England to 'marry' in a civil partnership ceremony.

What gives? It was a real wedding, they did marry, and it was recognised by the state. The BBC's implied "yes, but" attitude on this is more than a little arcane... not to mention patronising. Plus ça change, then!