Paul O'Grady's funeral will take place this week as fans are invited to line the streets to mourn the death of the much-loved presenter.
The 67-year-old passed away on March 28 from cardiac arrhythmia with the announcement coming as a huge shock to fans and those within the TV industry. People are now invited to pay their respects at a ceremony on Thursday, April 20.
A cortege is to pass through his home village in Kent as Paul's husband Andre shared the news to local Facebook groups, reports the Mirror.
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Andrea also attached a touching tribute and image to the post which shows the late entertainer smiling broadly while wearing white angel's wings, with the message: "I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of support and love I have received since the passing of our beloved Paul O'Grady.
"Your kind messages, beautiful flowers, and thoughtful texts of condolences have brought me comfort and solace during this difficult time.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the support and love I have received from our community, and we want to thank each and every one of you for your kindness and generosity.
"As a mark of respect and as Paul would have wanted, we will be holding a private funeral on Thursday, 20th April 2023. This information has not been made public, but I wanted to share it with local residents.
"While the funeral will be a private ceremony, as many of you know, Paul cared a lot about his local community.
"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."
A second, private memorial has also been arranged for close friends and family members of Paul at Port Lympne Safari Park - where the 67-year-old was a regular visitor.
Paul's family selected the venue with the animal-lover in mind as the park is home to more than 900 rare and endangered animals on a 600-acre section of land.
Paul had spoken openly about his battles with heart disease and had endured three heart attacks before the age of 65.
His death certificate, obtained by the Daily Express, showed a long-time friend and former PA and agent, Joan Marshrons, registered the entertainer's death six days after he died at home.
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