The pair reportedly paid just $30,000 to the surrogate mother of their newborn son Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, the same woman who gave birth to the pair’s first son Zachary.

The payment was in accordance with the rules of the Centre for Surrogate Parenting in Encino, California, which sets strict payment fees so that special treatment is not given to wealthier clients.

The unnamed woman, who the pair “treat like a sister”, received $26,160 for giving birth to Zachary in 2010, and will receive a further $32,700 if the couple choose to have a third child through her.

But being a surrogate is not an easy task and candidates go through a lengthy process before being selected. The Californian centre used by Elton and David only accepts women who are non-smokers, physically fit and are already bringing up a child of their own.

“They do it so they can bring joy and light to married and gay couples who wouldn’t otherwise be able to have children,” a source told The Sun.

The excited pair did not include the name of the child’s biological mother on the birth certificate, putting David’s name as the child’s mother, while Elton is listed as the child’s father. They announced the birth last week in Hello! magazine.

“Both of us have longed to have children, but the reality that we now have two sons is almost unbelievable,” they said in a statement.

“The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way.”