In a poignant revelation, Jack Osbourne has disclosed that a longstanding Royal protocol prevented him from honouring his late father, rock icon Ozzy Osbourne, with his iconic 'Prince of Darkness' moniker on the official death certificate.
A Royal Veto in the Countryside
The sombre task of registering the Black Sabbath frontman's passing took an unexpectedly light-hearted turn, according to Jack. He recounted the moment on an episode of his Trying Not To Die Podcast, recorded before he entered the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle. He and his sister Kelly found themselves in a historic building in the English countryside, pondering how to best describe their father's profession for the formal document.
"We put 'songwriter, performer'," Jack said, before his playful side emerged. "And then at the end, I was like, 'can I put Rock God?'" The registrar laughed and checked, but the title was not permitted. Undeterred, Jack then suggested his father's famous nickname, 'Prince of Darkness'. This too was swiftly rejected, with the official citing the special significance of the title 'Prince' in a nation with a Royal Family.
Settling for 'Rock Legend'
Faced with these unexpected formalities, Jack ultimately chose the description 'rock legend', which he felt was a fitting and "appropriate" tribute to his father's unparalleled career. Ozzy Osbourne, who would have celebrated his 77th birthday recently, passed away in July of this year. The final certificate acknowledges him as a 'rock legend, songwriter and performer'.
Jack has been openly processing his grief while in the Australian jungle for the ITV reality show. In a heartfelt conversation with former campmate Eddie Kadi, he became emotional while reflecting on his father's immense presence.
"Just his energy," Jack shared, brushing away tears. "He had this force... it was like, he swallowed the galaxy and didn't know what to do with it. He could say nothing and it's just this authentic energy with him. I miss it, and his humour... he was funny."
Facing the Jungle Challenge
As he continues his I'm A Celebrity journey, Jack is set to confront one of the show's most daunting trials. In a Wednesday evening episode, he will brave the 'Dangerous Discoveries' Bushtucker Trial, hunting for stars in gruesome locations to win food for his fellow celebrities.
The story of the death certificate offers a unique glimpse into the collision of rock and roll legacy with centuries-old British tradition, highlighting a touching and somewhat humorous family moment amidst profound loss. I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! airs tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
