Ozzy Osbourne fans showed up en masse to pay their respects to the music legend as his cortege travelled through his home city of Birmingham before the family held a private funeral.
The Black Sabbath singer's coffin travelled along Broad Street in the city centre on Wednesday, the hearse was followed closely by a distraught Sharon Osbourne, Jack and Kelly Osbourne and Ozzy's rarely seen children Louis and Aimee Osbourne.
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The procession paused at the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where thousands of fans had left tributes since the heavy metal icon died last week, aged 76.
In the lead up to the event, Birmingham Lord Mayor Zafar Iqbal said the city where Osbourne grew up will give him the "farewell he deserves".
He said: "Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham. "Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral.
"We know how much this moment will mean to his fans.
"We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves."
Sharnaz Shahid, HELLO!'s Deputy Website Editor from Birmingham, says: "As someone born and raised in this city, it's deeply moving to see Birmingham unite to bid a final farewell to Ozzy Osbourne. The opportunity for fans to gather on Broad Street, at the Black Sabbath Bridge, is incredibly meaningful. This moment isn't just about music - it's about Birmingham paying tribute to one of its biggest icons."
Sharon could be seen hugging the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, after she arrived at the Black Sabbath bench where floral tributes have been laid.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Zafar Iqbal, has been spotted strolling along the thousands of tributes to Ozzy.
The Lord Mayor also revealed that the late rocker read his biography and even wrote him a letter, identifying with Zafar's struggle with dyslexia throughout his schooling.
"He never forgot where he came from he will be remembered lovingly and you can see that from the crowds," Zafar said.
"He's a true legend and he put Birmingham on the map."
Trish Maguire and her friend are on the ground in Birmingham for the procession.
"Ozzy meant a lot to us," Trish tells HELLO!
Trish also works at the Birmingham Children's Hospital, which Ozzy was a major supporter of and contributor to. The proceeds from his final performance at Villa Park benefiting the hospital, Acorns Children's Hospice, and Cure Parkinson's
"His music helped many of us, seeing so many people here to celebrate and show support of him is truly amazing. I’m very lucky to be part of this. People are chanting OZZY OZZY OZZY everyone responding OI OI OI. It's a really nice farewell."
The Osbourne family is expected to appear at the cortege, where they'll look at the sea of tributes when the cortege reaches Broad Street at around 1pm.
Four hours before the cortege is scheduled to start, fans have started arriving early to get their spot near the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in Birmingham ahead of funeral procession for Black Sabbath frontman.
Fans both young and old are turning out in droves with homemade signs and Black Sabbath memorabilia as they line the streets of Birmingham to farewell the heavy metal legend.
Ahead of the cortege, floral tributes have been left at the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in Birmingham in memory of Black Sabbath frontman.
The iconic Black Sabbath Bridge is adorned with beautiful flowers and heartfelt notes from devoted fans.
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