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Michael Jackson Finally Been Laid To Rest

Actress Elizabeth Taylor joined Michael Jackson’s three children as they said a final goodbye to their father.

In contrast to the star-studded memorial concert, Jackson was buried following a private family service, with children Prince Michael I, 12; Paris Michael, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, leading the 200 mourners.

Before the ceremony began, the three children left their grandparents’ Katherine and Joe’s side to have a private moment with their father’s golden casket. They placed a crown on their father’s coffin to signify the final resting place of the King of Pop.

The funeral - estimated to have cost more than $1million dollars - had been due to start at 7pm but was delayed by more than an hour as guests waited for the family.

Jackson’s close friend Dame Elizabeth, 77, was one of the first to arrive at the Los Angeles Forest Lawn Cemetery in a wheelchair, which was placed at the end of a row of seats.

Lisa Marie Presley, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Macaulay Culkin, Corey Feldman, Mila Kunis and Barry Bonds were also amongst the mourners.

Other guests included Travis Payne and Kenny Ortega, who were with Michael at rehearsals for his London shows the night before he died.

Jackson’s young friend Omer Bhatti, 25, who has denied being the singer’s love-child, also joined the mourners.

Debbie Rowe, Jackson’s second wife and the mother of two of his three children, also received an invitation.

A sunset ceremony had been planned outside the Holly Terrace in the cemetery, but the family’s late arrival meant it was pitch black and a steamy 32 degrees when the service finally commenced.

A massive motorcade of 22 black vehicles, including at least five Rolls Royce Phantoms, carried the extended family to the cemetery, arriving just after 8pm LA time.

Jackson’s controversial father Joe Jackson arrived separately for the service but took a seat alongside his wife Katherine.

The Jackson family did allow a live video feed of guests arriving, but it was cut abruptly as a hearse carrying Jackson’s body arrived.

The pop star’s brothers carried the King Of Pop’s coffin from the hearse to the marble crypt at the Forest Lawn Great Mausoleum, where his body was laid to rest surrounded by the stars of Hollywood’s golden era.

Just as they had done at his memorial service in July, the Jackson brothers paid tribute to their brother wearing silver gloves and black arm bands.

As the coffin, covered in white flowers, was carried in and placed at the front of the mourners, Jackson’s ex-wife Lisa Marie became emotional and reportedly began to cry.

The ushers were dancers from what would have been Jackson’s London comeback tour, who wore silver gloves.

The opening prayer was delivered by Pastor Lucius Smith, who also read from Ecclesiastes 3:7.

During the 45 minute service soul singer Gladys Knight sang the gospel hymn His Eye Is on the Sparrow, accompanied by Greg Phillinganes.

Songwriter Clifton Davis sang The Jackson 5 song Never Can Say Goodbye, which he wrote for the group.

Speakers went up to the podium spontaneously to celebrate Michael’s life. Among those making remarks were his father, Joseph Jackson, Reverand Al Sharpton, close friends and family members.