Remembering Michael Jackson: Inside His Funeral

Posted on Sep 04, 2009 @ 06:59AM

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Michael Jackson finally received some well-deserved peace on Thursday evening when a close-knit group of family and friends said their goodbyes as they lay him to rest at the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif. As fans and media lined the cemetery's borders and as the world looked on, the King of Pop had his final curtain call. RadarOnline.com brings you moment-by-moment updates as it happens.

See some of Michael's greatest moments here

Afterwards, the intimate group will gather at Italian restaurant Villa Sorriso in Pasadena. RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively that the post-funeral event will not be a sit-down dinner. A server confirmed it will be mostly passed appetizers including bruschetta and shrimp cocktail. At Forest Lawn, security has been tightened to ensure the family, and Jackson's, privacy. A three mile no fly zone was enacted and armed security guards heavily patrolled the grounds.

See more of the celebrity guests here.

At the service site, rows of white chairs flanked a center aisle leading up to where Jackson's coffin will be placed. As the sun set and the 88-degree temperatures began to cool, mourners slowly filled the seats.

See photos from the Michael Jackson's Funeral

10:15 PM: Quincy Jones just arrived to the restaurant.

10 PM: Cars begin to exit the cemetery.

9:55 PM: The restaurant Villa Sorriso plays Jackson hits including "Bad" and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."

9:45 PM: The ceremony wraps up. Police are seen mobilizing.

9:30 PM: Guests started entering the mausoleum.

9:12 PM: Reverend Al Sharpton spoke and Gladys Knight performed. Lisa Marie Presley is apparently very emotional as she sat in the last row.

8:34 PM: The casket- which is covered in white flowers- is put into place by his brothers.

8:30 PM: Hearse arrives to the site. Michael's brothers act as some of the pallbearers. The live picture video feed provided by the Jackson family ends.

8:20 PM: The ushers- who were dancers on Michael's last tour- escort the last few guests to their seats.

8:15 PM: The rest of the family takes their seats. Katherine and Joe are seated next to one another.

8:10 PM: Janet Jackson takes her seat and Joe Jackson ushers the three children to their seats.

8:05 PM: The motorcade of vehicles arrive at the cemetery carrying the rest of the family including Jackson's three children - Prince, Paris, and Blanket - and his mother Katherine.

7:47 PM: Barry Bonds and Corey Feldman are also present.

7:45 PM: The family has still not arrived. Lisa Marie Presley reportedly arrived in a Maybach.

7:29 PM: Kenny Ortega is spotted among the guests as is Katherine Jackson's lawyer Londell McMillan and Michael's confidante Miko Brando. Debbie Rowe - who was invited - has yet to be seen.

7:15 PM: The family is running late and have not yet arrived.

6:50 PM: Elizabeth Taylor - wearing black with a pink embellishment - takes her place in her pew. She sat at the end of the row due to her wheelchair.

McCauley Culkin and girlfriend Mila Kunis talk amongst themselves as they sit in their seats waiting for the service to begin.

6:46 PM: Fabio pulls up in a red Corvette.

6:32 PM: Chris Tucker arrived in the front seat of a silver Rolls Royce.

6:30 PM: Elizabeth Taylor arrived in a black Mercedes Benz.

6:20 PM: Reverend Al Sharpton arrived in a white Rolls Royce.

5:30 PM: Joe Jackson, dressed in all black, appears outside the gates of the family's Encino home to oversee the arrival of the family's vehicles which include a mix of SUVs and black Rolls Royce Phantoms.

Keep refreshing for more updates...

Tell us what you think about the funeral! Post a comment below.

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Comments

Why did the family make them wait 2 hours in a scary cementry at night? Poor people probably had "thriller " video playing in there heads the whole time they had to wait!
Thank God he was finally allowed to be layed to rest ...

by lovelee
Posted Sat, 09/05/2009 - 11:29am

Another thing that bothers me, is the family can pay for this, but they don't want to pay for the fan memorial which was THEIR IDEA TO BEGIN WITH!!! MAKE THEM PAY FOR BOTH.

by Chacooe
Posted Sat, 09/05/2009 - 2:09am

Why does Joe Jackson dress like he is a big pimp. He reminds me of pictures I have seen ass to what PIMPS look like. He always wears the same outfit and hat. WHY?

by Chacooe
Posted Sat, 09/05/2009 - 2:07am

Plug your ears then Momof5! You sound like a very immature 'adult'..can you not stand to hear anything about him because you feel so inferior? You just don't 'get it'..pity for your kids

by Serina
Posted Sat, 09/05/2009 - 12:06am

I hope I never have to hear another word about this guy . Look I was a fan when I was a kid but I am an adult now get over it people he was just a singer, not a scientist or surgeon, he didnt invent the wheel

by momof5
Posted Fri, 09/04/2009 - 3:10pm

It was a shame as much planning and preparation that obviously went into the funeral that the guests were made to wait such a long time in the sweltering heat.

by INQUIRINGMINDS
Posted Fri, 09/04/2009 - 12:10pm

Good night sweet prince. I started crying all over again watching this video

by SableAthena
Posted Fri, 09/04/2009 - 10:21am

they should have restricted the list more...barry bonds? really?

by iheartcelebs
Posted Thu, 09/03/2009 - 11:40pm

i feel bad for the children. their dad tried so hard to keep them from the public and now they have to be up front and center forever

by iheartcelebs
Posted Thu, 09/03/2009 - 11:26pm

MJ is finally going into a marble drawer and be cemented up. its about time.. i hope Joe and Katherine don't change their mind and send him back to the freezer. 70 days of headlines on MJ is tiresome...

by cindy25
Posted Thu, 09/03/2009 - 11:15pm