Paul O'Grady's grave has finally received a headstone, two and a half years after his death. The TV presenter died aged 67 at his home in Kent in March 2023 due to a cardiac arrhythmia. He was buried the following month at St. Rumwold's Churchyard in Bonnington, Kent, where his grave had been marked only by wooden crosses and ornaments.
His widow, Andre Portasio, announced the placement of the headstone on Paul's Instagram account on Friday, after a 'lengthy' application process. The dark grey headstone features Paul's name alongside that of his former long-term partner, Brendan Murphy, who died of an inoperable brain tumour in 2005 and is buried with Paul. It also includes a figurine of Paul's dog Buster and a quote from philosopher Michel de Montaigne: 'The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be one's own self.'
Andre expressed gratitude to the Commissary Court of the Diocese of Canterbury, the Parish of Bonnington, and the Church of St. Rumwold for granting permission. He said, 'I miss him dearly every day, but I am grateful that his resting place is now complete. I hope he would be pleased with the final design.' Fans praised the headstone, particularly the inclusion of Brendan Murphy.
Andre and Paul began their relationship in 2006 and married in August 2017 at the Goring Hotel in London. Earlier this year, Andre reduced the price of Paul's former £3.5 million Edwardian mansion, Knoll Hill House, to £2.4 million after it failed to attract buyers.
