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Bahamas funeral for Anna Nicole Bahamas funeral for Anna Nicole
(about 1 hour later)
Mourners have gathered at a church in the Bahamian capital, Nassau, for the funeral of the model Anna Nicole Smith. Mourners have attended the funeral of the former model Anna Nicole Smith at a church in the Bahamian capital, Nassau.
Her coffin, covered in pink 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. Pallbearers in pink ties carried her coffin down a red carpet. She will be buried in a pink gown and tiara beside her son Daniel, 20, who died last year.
Ms Smith 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.
About three hundred people are attending the private funeral service at the Mount Horeb Baptist Church. Three hundred people are thought to have attended the private funeral service at the Mount Horeb Baptist Church.
Guests were given pink roses in remembrance of Smith and her sonHundreds of islanders and tourists massed behind police-guarded barricades as guests arrived in limousines. Guests received pink and red roses to remember Smith and her sonHundreds of islanders and tourists massed behind police-guarded barricades as guests arrived in white limousines.
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. Ms Smith's body arrived at the church in a white hearse and her mahogany coffin was draped in a rhinestone-studded pink blanket. The pews were decorated with pink roses.
"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. Before the service, Richard Milstein, the court-appointed guardian of her five-month-old daughter, Danielynn, asked the journalists and onlookers for "respect and solemnity".
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. "Today we share our grief with all of you. Today we come to you to carry out the final, most sacred, solemn act provided to any individual," he said.
About 30 friends and family members are expected to attend. Ms Smith will be buried at Lakeview Memorial Park cemetery in a grave next to her son. About 30 friends and family members are expected to attend.
Legal wrangleLegal 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 ruling that Ms Smith should be buried in the Bahamas despite a challenge by her estranged mother, who wanted her laid to rest in her native Texas.
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. The appeals court said the model wanted to be buried near Daniel in the Bahamas. Ms Smith had recently made the country her home.
An official inquest into his death is also pending.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.