Beloved comedian and Drag Queen Paul O’Grady is set to be laid to rest today as his family, friends and fans gather to mourn and celebrate his life in Kent.
The comedian tragically passed away at the age of 67 on 28 March 2023 from a sudden cardiac arrhythmia, which is an unexpected heart attack with no apparent cause.
Paul’s funeral will take place on Thursday, 20 April and pay tribute to his work as a charity ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
The service will see a number of dogs from the shelter form a Guard of Honour for the late comedian as a special nod to Paul’s work.
In the weeks since his death, Paul’s devoted fans have raised a staggering £270,000 for Paul’s favourite cause.
Another of Paul’s charity causes, The Salvation Army, is also expected to play a role in the funeral.
Although the service will be private, Paul’s widower Andre Portasio has revealed that a public procession will pass through Paul’s home village of Adlington.
Andre, 42, explained in a Facebook post that the late TV star “cared a lot about his local community” and that he hoped the procession would be “a way of marking Paul’s affection for the area.”
Paul had lived in the region for more than twenty years and regularly participated in village events, including judging a local dog competition just last year.
The public procession is thought to be scheduled to take place between 2.10 and 2.45pm.
Andre is also urging the public to “respect the villagers and the local area” should they wish to attend.
Paul wed Andre, a former professional dancer, 11 years after they first started dating in 2006.
The couple’s 2017 nuptials were attended by celeb pals Julian Clary, Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman.
Acclaimed comedian Julian also lives in Adlington and is thought to have remained a close friend of the couple up until close pal Paul’s death.
The pair were reported to have been regulars down at local pub The Walnut Tree and it’s expected that Julian will be one of the stars in attendance at the private family service.
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