A message has been shared to Paul O’Grady’s official Instagram account thanking fans for turning out to pay their last respects on the day of his funeral.
Comedian and broadcaster O’Grady - who originally shot to fame as drag queen alter ego Lily Savage - was laid to rest on Thursday in front of a congregation of his closest friends and family following an emotional funeral service in Kent.
While the service its self was private, hundreds the beloved star’s fans flocked to Aldington, the village where O’Grady lived for more than 20 years, to line the streets as the funeral procession passed through.
Many of them were joined by their pet dogs in a touching nod to animal loving O’Grady, who fronted ITV show For The Love Of Dogs and owned a number of canines himself over the years.
Alongside an ornate gold framed photo of the proud Liverpudlian and a spray of white lilies, the social media post’s caption read: “Yesterday was a very sad day. We said good bye to our beloved Paul O’Grady. We thank everyone who despite the weather came to pay their respects at the procession, humans and furry friends.
“He would have been very humbled. The outpouring of love and kindness over the last 3 weeks has been truly amazing.”
O’Grady’s husband, Andre portasio, 42, announced that he had passed away suddenly, but “peacefully” on March 28 at the age of 67.
A coronor later confirmed that his cause of death was down to cardiac arrhythmia.
