Jackson coffin will be at memorial (From Lancaster And Morecambe Citizen)

Jackson coffin will be at memorial

4:47pm Tuesday 7th July 2009

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Millions of mourners are preparing to bid farewell to Michael Jackson in the biggest celebrity send-off of all time.

As motorways were closed across Los Angeles to allow the Jackson family to travel in cavalcade to his private funeral service at the Forest Lawn Cemetery, it emerged the King of Pop's coffin will take centre stage at the star-studded memorial service.

The service at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles is expected to reach an audience of billions as music stars and a former Britain's Got Talent contestant perform at the public farewell.

Police blocked off roads and warned those without tickets to stay away because they would not be able to get close to the centre as an invasion of British fans arrived in California.

As many as 700,000 people, including many Britons, are feared to have tried to reach the arena.

CNN.com said the tribute, under the global media spotlight, was to be "one of the most-viewed events of all time".

Welsh schoolboy Shaheen Jafargholi, a finalist on the British TV talent show, was in the line-up alongside major stars including Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and Stevie Wonder.

But Hollywood star Dame Elizabeth Taylor, a long-term friend of Jackson's, wrote on Twitter: "I said I wouldn't go to the Staples Centre and I certainly don't want to become a part of it. I love him too much.

"I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word."

Basketball hero Magic Johnson, singer Usher, Smokey Robinson, Brooke Shields and Jennifer Hudson were due to participate in the event, the Jackson family said in a statement. The city of Los Angeles has asked Jackson's family for financial help to deal with the cost of coping with the ceremony.

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