Elizabeth Taylor was late to her own funeral last week — at her own request.
The 79-year-old actress was laid to rest in a small and private ceremony at Los Angeles’ Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Thursday.
In pictures: Elizabeth Taylor’s amazing life
As per Elizabeth’s final wishes, her casket arrived 15 minutes late to the funeral, which was attended by a small group of family members and close friends.
“She even wanted to be late for her own funeral,” a family representative said in a media release.
Elizabeth’s casket was closed and decorated with her favourite flowers: gardenias, violets and lilies-of-the-valley. She was buried near her long-time friend Michael Jackson in the cemetery’s Great Mausoleum.
The funeral took place just one day after Elizabeth passed away in Los Angeles’ Cedars Sinai Medical Center of congestive heart failure. The speedy burial is believed to be partly due to Elizabeth’s strict Jewish beliefs, and partly to avoid a media circus.
The funeral was conducted by Rabbi Jerry Cutler and lasted for one hour. Elizabeth’s son Michael Wilding, daughter Liza Todd, grandson Tarquin Wilding and actor friend Colin Farrell gave readings and another grandson, Rhys Tivey played ‘Amazing Grace’ on a trumpet.
Related: Elizabeth Taylor leaves millions to AIDS charity
The funeral ended years of speculation about what Elizabeth’s plans were for her final resting place. Some people claimed she would be interred next to her parents at Los Angeles’ Westwood Village cemetery, but others insisted she would honour a promise to her ex-husband Richard Burton by requesting she be buried next to him.
Richard was one of Elizabeth’s great loves and the pair were married twice. During the height of their relationship, Richard and Elizabeth reportedly agreed to be buried next to each other in Pontrhydyfen in Wales. This burial option seemed unlikely, however, as Richard ended up being buried in Switzerland, reportedly for “tax purposes”.
Related stories
.png?resize=380%2C285)
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
-(1).png?resize=380%2C285)
Native ad body.
