ITALY: MILAN: INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITIES PAY FINAL RESPECTS TO VERSACE

(23 Jul 1997) Natural Sound

The "Who's Who" of high fashion and showbiz said goodbye to their colleague and friend Gianni Versace on Tuesday.

Britain's Princess Diana, supermodel Naomi Campbell, singers Elton John and Sting and designers such as Giorgio Armani and Valentino were among the more than two- thousand mourners who joined a memorial service at the Duomo cathedral in Milan.

Fashion guru Versace was gunned down on 15 July in front of his mansion in Miami Beach in Florida - his brutal killing sent shockwaves through the world of glitz and glamour.

Surrounded by security guards, rock star Elton John arrived at Gianni Versace's downtown palazzo in Milan on Tuesday.

He joined friends and colleagues of the murdered designer who had come from all over the world to pay their last respects to the designer.

In the palazzo's courtyard, the mourners filed past the urn containing Versace's ashes which sat on a simple altar.

Naomi Campbell - Versace's favourite model - had flown in from South Africa - she arrived carrying a single white rose.

Versace's sister, Donatella - who has vowed to carry on Gianni's empire with her brother Santo - was on hand to greet the mourners.

As a host of international celebrities came and went, crowds of spectators formed outside the building in Milan's exclusive Via Montenapoleone design district.

Later in the day, the mourners attended a memorial service in Milan's Gothic Duomo Cathedral.

The celebrity-filled service might have resembled a night at the Oscars, except there was no glitz, only grief.

Many wept openly.

The mourners included Britain's Princess Diana, supermodels Eva Herzigova, Valeria Mazza and Carla Bruni, choreographer Maurice Bejart and many others.

Perhaps one of the greatest tributes to Versace was the turnout of so many of his fashion colleagues, despite past rivalries on and off the runway.

Carla Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino and arch-rival Giorgio Armani sat in a row behind the Versace family.

They were united in mourning the loss of one of the main contributors to the success of the "Made in Italy" label.

At one point during the highly emotional service, Elton John broke down in tears and had to be comforted by Princess Diana.

The sombre mood in the Milan Cathedral reflected the atmosphere throughout the world of fashion.

All of Versace's followers, many of whom loved to flaunt his bright colours and sequinned fabrics, wore black.

As relatives and stars comforted each other, Elton John and Sting performed a mournful rendition of Psalm 23 "The Lord is my Shepherd".

It brought many of the celebrities and other mourners to tears.

Versace's sister Donatella and brother Santo were overcome by grief as the cathedral filled with music.

Versace's murder on the steps of his Miami mansion last Tuesday sent shock waves through the world of fashion and showbiz.

Those who mourned his death were still struck with disbelief.

As the star-studded congregation descended the cathedral, a sombre mood hung over the city of Milan.

A few blocks from the cathedral, shops in the heart of Milan's fashion district had closed during the service in tribute to the slain designer.

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