Paul O'Grady was taken to his final resting place on Thursday as hundreds of people lined the streets in Adlington, Kent, to pay their respects. TV icon Paul died "unexpectedly and peacefully" at home aged 67 on March 28 last month with his official death certificate confirming the TV star died from sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
In emotional pictures taken today, Paul's husband Andre Portasio was seen holding the couple's beloved dog Conchita in his arms as the coffin arrived at the ceremony by horse and cart.
The former ballet dancer looked heartbroken as he tried to hold back tears as he sat alongside the cart driver.
Next to Paul's coffin was a flower bouquet in the shape of his most beloved pooch and best friend Buster, who passed in November 2009. The deeply moving flower display featured a gold collar with Buster's name engraved on it as it sat at the top of Paul's coffin, the Mirror reports.
Paul's funeral began on Thursday with the procession at 2.10pm before a ceremony at 3pm.
"While the funeral will be a private ceremony, as many of you know, Paul cared a lot about his local community," Paul's widow Andre began when revealing plans to local residents earlier this month.
"We have therefore requested that the funeral procession passes through Aldington before heading to the church, as a way of marking Paul's affection for the area. We would therefore like to invite all locals to join us in paying our respects to Paul in Aldington Village between 14:10 - 14:45 on Thursday.
"In order to avoid road congestion and public disorder, we kindly ask all residents to treat this invitation personally and if attending to stand on either Roman Road, Forge Hill, or New Road Hill so to respect the villagers and the local area.
"Please note for public safety Church Road as well as Knoll Hill will be closed on the day of the procession.
"We kindly ask everyone to respect the family's wishes and maintain social distancing throughout the event. Thank you for your understanding and support during this difficult time."
The emotional day has moved Paul's fans to tears as tributes to the star have continued to pour in throughout the day, with dogs also lining the streets to say goodbye to the animal-loving TV star.
Dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where Paul carried out volunteer work, formed a guard of honour as part of his private funeral service and followed the cortège procession before greeting guests at the church.
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