The openly-gay singer was granted Spanish citizenship today. According to Spanish newspaper El Paris, he asked for the honour in order to wed his partner Carlos Gonzalez in the country.

It was decided that Ricky who was born in Puerto Rico - could become a Spanish national as his grandmother is from Spain and he also owns a home there. It was also announced that Benicio del Toro has been granted citizenship.

“[These two] famous in their different arts, wish to share Spanish citizenship with all of us and the government is therefore very pleased," Spanish government spokesman Jose Blanco said, according to Fox News.

"Spanish citizenship is acquired by naturalisation papers awarded at discretion by royal decree when the interested party conjoins exceptional circumstances and after a document is processed for each case in particular, as occurred with those the government has resolved today.”

Ricky has spoken of his love for Carlos in the past. The singer is father to three-year-old twins Matteo and Valentino and loves how well they get on with his partner.

“All I can say is he loves my children and they love him. It can't get better,” he said last year.