Elton John `blessed` in becoming a dad

The 63-year-old and his partner David Furnish welcomed baby Zachary into their lives on Christmas Day, and said his arrival is a dream come true.

John told 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 couple went through heartache in 2009 when Ukrainian officials refused to allow them to adopt orphans Lev and Artyom because of their unrecognised civil partnership and John’s age.

But David said little Zachery, who was born through a surrogate, will not affect their close relationship with Lev and Artyom.

'Although Ukrainian law does not permit Elton and I to adopt Lev and Artyom, we are determined to give them the best chance of living a happy and healthy life with a loving Ukrainian family. The arrival of our son has done nothing but strengthen our resolve to help these two wonderful children,' he said.

'We are, however, constrained by Ukrainian policy and legal procedure, and this is why for the past 12 months we have retained a leading Ukrainian law firm to assist us in this process.'