Paul O'Grady 'smoked spliff' before he died as husband details final moments before tragic death

The widow of the late Paul O'Grady has told how he died while smoking a spliff at home. The much-loved entertainer, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on March 28 aged 67.

His partner Andre Portasio said at the time: "He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion."

Paul and Andre had been together for 18 years and tied the knot in 2017. The couple lived in a farmhouse home in Kent, which also housed a variety of their rescue animals. And now Andre has told a celebrity-packed memorial gathering that Paul passed away peacefully as they shared a cannabis joint at their home in Kent.

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According to The Sun, Andre shared the details at an event on Wednesday night, which was attended by a host of celebrities including Alan Carr, Amanda Holden and Dawn French.

More than 320 guests packed into the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London where Andre spoke. For the ceremony, Her Majesty Queen Camilla also paid a moving tribute to Paul which was read out by Calendar Girls actress Celia Imrie. Her Majesty was unable to attend the service in person due to state events.

And according to the publication, Andre told the crowd: "We’d had a very ordinary day, just watching TV together at home, when Paul said he wanted to make a ‘cup of tea’, and that was our ­little code for rolling a spliff.

"So Paul went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, brought it back, lit it and started smoking it – and that was our last time together,