Tens of thousands of fans have attended Michael Jackson's memorial in Los Angeles described as 'part musical feast, part religious experience.'
The memorial was watched by an estimated global audience of several hundred million.
Jackson died on 25 June after suffering cardiac arrest in his rented Los Angeles mansion.
Eulogies flowed as mourners including rock stars and athletes gathered for the two-hour celebration of the King of Pop's life, less than two weeks after his death at the age of 50.
The show, according to the Washington Post, was in the 'transcendent tradition' of Jackson's past performances.
The two-hour celebration of Jackson's life ended with a moment of poignancy as the superstar's 11-year-old daughter Paris unexpectedly addressed the audience from the stage.
'Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much,' the youngster said before dissolving into tears and being consoled by aunt Janet Jackson.
Jackson's final journey - 12 days after his death in Los Angeles at the age of 50 - began with a private service at the picturesque Forest Lawn mortuary in the Hollywood Hills.
The singer's ornate golden casket - covered with a mound of red roses - was then loaded into a black hearse under the watchful eye of around 20 media helicopters hovering overhead.
A motorcade made a stately procession to the 20,000-capacity arena, where family, friends and celebrities rubbed shoulders with ordinary fans who had won tickets via an online lottery.
Police estimate more than 250,000 people had gathered on the streets outside the arena to pay their final respects.
Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe did not attended as she said her attendance might be a distraction and long-time friend actress Elizabeth Taylor said she was asked to speak but was too overcome by grief.
