Friends and family of Michael Jackson have paid their last respects to the singer known as the King of Pop at a funeral ceremony outside Los Angeles.

流行天王Michael Jackson的亲人和朋友在洛杉矶外的葬礼上最后一次向他道别。

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The singer's gold-plated casket was adorned with flowers

Dame² Elizabeth Taylor, actor Macaulay Culkin and music producer Quincy Jones were among the 200 invited guests.

Gladys Knight³ sang at the service while civil rights campaigner the Reverend Al Sharpton was one of the speakers.

The ceremony was due to begin at 0200 GMT at Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park but began more than an hour late.

The delay was caused by the late arrival of the singer's family, who eventually arrived in a motorcade（汽车行列） of 31 vehicles.

Jackson's brothers - Randy, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon - acted as pallbearers（抬棺人） as his gold-plated coffin⁴ was removed from a hearse（灵车）.

All were dressed identically in black suits, with each wearing a solitary⁵ white glove - a fashion statement made famous by their legendary⁶ sibling⁷（兄弟姐妹）.

The singer's children - Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - sat in the front row next to his parents, Katherine and Joe Jackson.

Comedian⁸ Chris Tucker, producer Berry Gordy and Lisa Marie Presley, Jackson's ex-wife, also attended.

The service took place after dark in the open air outside Forest Lawn's Great Mausoleum.

It came more than two months after Jackson died of a lethal⁹ cocktail¹⁰ of prescription¹¹ drugs at the age of 50.

Last week Jackson's death was ruled to be a homicide by the Los Angeles coroner.

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

A statement from the Jackson family said the pop star's casket（匣子，棺材） was interred¹²（埋葬） at 2143 local time (0443 GMT).

"The Jackson family wishes to once again thank all of Michael's fans around the world for their generous outpouring（流出，流露） of support during this terribly difficult time," the statement read.

Jackson's family and mourners attended a post-funeral reception at an Italian restaurant in nearby Pasadena.

Security was tight ahead of the ceremony, with fans and media kept away by a heavy security presence.

Police had cordoned¹³ off（用警戒线隔离） roads leading to the Forest Lawn site throughout the day.

A live TV feed was provided of the guests arriving, though the footage ceased once the service began.

Jackson, known for such hits as Bad, Thriller¹⁴ and Smooth Criminal, was originally due to be buried on 29 August on what 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 cemetery¹⁵.

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