Prince's ex-wife Mayte Garcia has paid an emotional tribute to her late husband, saying that he is "with our son now".
Garcia, who is said to be the inspiration for Prince's No 1 hit song The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, was a former backing dancer with the music icon. They married in 1996 and they had one son, Boy Gregory, who tragically died a week after he was born from the rare genetic disorder Pfeiffer syndrome. The couple divorced in 2000.
Prince, who was 57, was found dead in his Minnesota home on Thursday and in a statement released on her instagram account, Garcia said: “He is with our son now”.
Garcia's tribute was one of many paid last night to the music icon. Chaka Khan, who had a huge hit in 1984 with Prince's 1979 song I Feel for You, last night declared her love for her ‘brother’. President Barack Obama said the world has “lost a creative icon” and Elton John praised him as the “greatest performer I have ever seen”.
"'A strong spirit transcends rules,' Prince once said—and nobody's spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative." —President Obama
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 21, 2016
On Thursday night, the club where Prince filmed Purple Rain threw an all-night party to honour the singer. Film director Spike Lee held an impromptu street party in the front of his Brooklyn home and played Prince's music to fans on the street.
There are currently 12 Prince albums in the Irish iTunes chart, with greatest hits collection Ultimate at No 1, Purple Rain at No 3 and Parade at No 6.
The cause of Prince's death is still unexplained and a post-mortem is due to take place later today.
