Paul O'Grady funeral live updates and pictures as thousands gather to pay respects

Paul O'Grady will be laid to rest today (Thursday, April 20) in a private service featuring a guard of honour with dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and an appearance from the Salvation Army Band. The comedian and TV star died 'unexpectedly but peacefully' last month, aged 67.

His husband Andre Portasio confirmed the tragic loss in a statement following O'Grady's death on March 28. "We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss," he added in a statement.

The funeral of O’Grady, who rose to fame as his platinum wig-wearing drag queen alter ego Lily Savage before going on to host a string of television programmes, will feature a guard of honour with dogs from Battersea in a special nod to the star who became an ambassador for the animal charity in 2012 and rehomed five dogs while filming his multiple award-winning ITV show Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.

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On Thursday, the procession leading to the private service is expected to carry Birkenhead-born O'Grady's coffin through his home town of Aldington in Kent, with local fans expected to gather along the streets to pay their respects and mourn the TV personality.

Residents are invited to stand on Roman Road, Forge Hill or New Road Hill between 2.10pm and 2.45pm on Thursday, although Mr Portasio, who married O’Grady in a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017, asked to "respect the villagers and the local area". The Salvation Army Band is expected to play during the private service on Thursday.

At the church, pallbearers carried the wooden coffin adorned with a wreath of lilies, while O’Grady’s daughter Sharyn Mousley