Michael Jackson's family are preparing for the late pop star's private funeral at a cemetery¹ in Los Angeles.

Michael Jackson的家人正在准备举行这位巨星在洛杉矶公墓的最后私人葬礼。

Jackson will join a long list of stars who are buried at the cemetery

Few details are known of the ceremony at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, more than two months after Jackson died of a lethal²（致命的） cocktail³ of prescription⁴ drugs（凭处方供应的药品）.

Security is tight and police have urged the singer's fans not to turn up.

"Extraordinary" funeral costs will be covered by Jackson's estate after lawyers for his mother Katherine asked a judge to sign off on the expenses.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff authorised the estate to pay for the burial.

Attorney Jeryll Cohen said: "The expenses are extraordinary. However, Michael Jackson was extraordinary."

Mr Cohen said one of the reasons that costs were so high is because 12 burial plots have been bought, though it has not been revealed what purpose they will serve.

Some 200 guests are expected to attend the sunset funeral service, to commence at 0300 BST.

Mourners

Close friends Diana Ross and Brooke Shields are reported to be among the mourners who will be in attendance.

It has also been reported that soul legend Aretha Franklin will sing at the 45-minute service, and that his three children will leave notes on their father's coffin⁵.

Celebrity⁶ website TMZ is reporting that the Jackson family are now travelling from their home in Encino in a fleet of Rolls Royce Phantoms⁷.

Jackson is to be buried at Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum, a neo-classical building inspired by the Campo Santo in Genoa.

Last week, Jackson's death was ruled to be a homicide by the Los Angeles coroner（验尸官）.

The verdict（判决） increases the chances of criminal charges being brought, although no one has been named a suspect.

Jackson, known for such hits as Bad, Thriller⁸ and Smooth Criminal, was originally due to be buried on 29 August - which would have been his 51st birthday.

However, the date was pushed back to allow more time for the planning of the ceremony.

Jackson joins a long list of famous stars who have also been buried in the Forest Lawn cemetery.

Screen stars Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable have all been laid to rest there.