Remembering Michael Jackson: Inside His Funeral
Sept. 4 2009, Published 9:59 a.m. ET
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.
Read more about the security measures here
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.
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