**Michael Jackson’s family are preparing for the late pop star’s private funeral at a cemetery in Los Angeles.**Mourners are expected to gather at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, more than two months after Jackson died of a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs.
Security will be tight and police have urged fans not to turn up.
The “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.
Criminal charges
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.
Last week, Jackson’s death was ruled 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.
Jackson, known for such hits as Bad, Thriller 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.