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Bahamas funeral for Anna Nicole Bahamas funeral for Anna Nicole
(40 minutes later)
The body of the late model Anna Nicole Smith has been flown to the Bahamas from Florida for her funeral. Mourners have gathered at a church in the Bahamian capital, Nassau, for the funeral of the model Anna Nicole Smith.
She will be buried in a custom-made pink gown beside the grave of her 20-year-old son, after an "over the top" memorial service, friends say. Her coffin, covered in white ribbons, was carried down a red carpet into the church. She is being buried in a beaded pink gown and tiara next to her son.
She died aged 39 on 8 February in a Florida hotel room of unknown causes. Ms Smith died aged 39 on 8 February in a Florida hotel room of unknown causes.
Her death has triggered legal battles in the US and the Bahamas over control of her body and custody of her baby, who could inherit millions of dollars.Her death has triggered legal battles in the US and the Bahamas over control of her body and custody of her baby, who could inherit millions of dollars.
Her body was flown from Miami to the Bahamian capital, Nassau, after police escorted a black hearse to the airport from the medical examiner's office in Fort Lauderdale. About three hundred people are attending the private funeral service at the Mount Horeb Baptist Church.
Feminine Police escorted a black hearse carrying Ms Smith's bodyHundreds of islanders and tourists massed behind police-guarded barricades as guests arrived in limousines.
Three hundred people are expected to attend the private funeral service later on Friday at the Mount Horeb Baptist Church. The pews of the church are decorated with pink roses. A Nassau florist said he had been taking orders for flowers from friends of Ms Smith.
Police escorted a black hearse carrying Ms Smith's bodyA Nassau florist said he had been taking orders for flowers from friends of Ms Smith.
"It's all pink and white roses, and hydrangeas and very feminine and soft, which I think is appropriate for Anna Nicole Smith," James Whitehead told Associated Press news agency."It's all pink and white roses, and hydrangeas and very feminine and soft, which I think is appropriate for Anna Nicole Smith," James Whitehead told Associated Press news agency.
Pink was her favourite colour.
Ms Smith will be buried at Lakeview Memorial Park cemetery in a grave next to her son, said Richard Milstein, the court-appointed guardian of her five-month-old daughter Dannielynn.Ms Smith will be buried at Lakeview Memorial Park cemetery in a grave next to her son, said Richard Milstein, the court-appointed guardian of her five-month-old daughter Dannielynn.
About 30 friends and family members are expected to attend.About 30 friends and family members are expected to attend.
Legal wrangle
On Wednesday, a Florida appeals court upheld a judge's ruling that Ms Smith should be buried in the Bahamas despite a challenge by her mother, who wanted her laid to rest in her native Texas.On Wednesday, a Florida appeals court upheld a judge's ruling that Ms Smith should be buried in the Bahamas despite a challenge by her mother, who wanted her laid to rest in her native Texas.
The appeals court argued that the model wanted to be buried near her son who died in the Bahamas last year. Ms Smith had recently made the country her home. The appeals court said the model wanted to be buried near her 20-year-old son, Daniel, who died in the Bahamas last year. Ms Smith had recently made the country her home.
Oil tycoon's fortune An official inquest into his death is also pending.
Florida medical examiner Joshua Perper has said he will announce the cause of Ms Smith's death next week.Florida medical examiner Joshua Perper has said he will announce the cause of Ms Smith's death next week.
He said it was a complex case, "unusual from a medical point of view".He said it was a complex case, "unusual from a medical point of view".
Ms Smith married Texas oil tycoon J Howard Marshall in 1994 when she was 26 and he was 89 and had been fighting his family over his fortune since his death in 1995.Ms Smith married Texas oil tycoon J Howard Marshall in 1994 when she was 26 and he was 89 and had been fighting his family over his fortune since his death in 1995.