Prince's body is secretly cremated after being released to his family as heartbroken friends gather for intimate memorial service 

Prince's closest friends and family members gathered for a private memorial service at Paisely Park on Saturday, a day after his body was cremated.

A sea of purple marked the occasion, with many guests opting to wear the star's favorite color as they celebrated his life.

Close friends such as Damaris Lewis, his former lover Sheila E, band member Hannah Welton and her husband Josh Welton and others were spotted entering the property around 2 pm today.

They were greeted by security as they made their way into the studio for the service.

The Purple Rain hitmaker's ex-wife Mayte Garcia attended the memorial but was not pictured but it is not known if his other ex-wfie, Manuela Testolini was in attendance.

Earlier Testolini who was married to Prince from 2001 to 2006 had said she was 'heartbroken beyond words' but said she and the singer 'had a magical journey together and I loved him immensely'

And at one point in the afternoon, extended family members including his only full sibling Tyka Nelson exited the studio to greet fans of the late rock star and to hand out memorabilia in purple gift boxes.

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Prince's closest friends including model Damaris Lewis (left), and family members gathered for a private memorial service at Paisely Park on Saturday, a day after his body was cremated

The purple-haired Tyka Nelson, 55, (pictered at Saturday's service) also a singer, grew close to her brother again in recent years after initially struggling as she raised her sons

Arrangements of purple flowers and catered food were also delivered to the late legend's home in Chanhassen, Minnesota, earlier in the day before relatives and friends joined together for the intimate event. Right, Damaris Lewis

And at one point in the afternoon extended family members including his only full sibling Tyka Nelson exited the studio to greet fans of the late rock star and to hand out memorabilia in purple gift boxes

The boxes contained a t-shirt and were handed out to the crowds of people gathered outside his home and recording studio.

Arrangements of purple flowers and catered food were also delivered to the late legend's home in Chanhassen, Minnesota, earlier in the day before relatives and friends joined together for the intimate event. 

Prince's body was quietly released to his family just after 1pm Friday after a four hour autopsy at the Minnesota medical examiner's office in Ramsey.

With his sister Tyka, her son Prez and another member of the family present, the legend's body was cremated at the First Memorial Western Chapel in Minnesota.

His body arrived around 2pm on Friday and the cremation began an hour later. His family waited four hours to be presented with the casket containing his ashes. 

Because Prince is a Jehovah's Witness he had to have funeral services carried out within a week of his death. 

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when a person dies, their existence completely stops.

This is because the Bible makes it clear that human beings do not have an immortal soul that survives when the body dies.

But death is not the end - they believe each person can be remembered by God and eventually resurrected.

The Jehovah's Witnesses funeral service is similar to other Christian faiths and usually takes place within a week after death.

'Throughout his life and following his Jehovah's Witness faith Prince made it clear to his family that if he ever were to be taken from us he wanted to die with dignity. 

Sheila E (right with musician friend Larry Graham) a former percussionist and vocalist with Prince whose real name is Sheila Escovedo. Prince had proposed to her while the pair were on stage. Speaking about his death she said: 'Thirty-eight years of him and I being together, there's just so many memories good and bad.'

Pictured left wearing black, Prince's close friend Damaris Lewis. Right, in purple suit, musician friend Larry Graham

Prince fans of all ages lined the grounds outside his home to pay their respects. Many were seen in tears and sharing boxes of tissues 

A sea of purple marked the occasion, with many guests opting for to wear the star's favorite color as they celebrated his life. Pictured left, musician friend Larry Graham embraces a fan. Right, center singer Judith Hill and in white coat, his former lover Sheila E

Memorabilia boxes given out to fans by Prince's family at his Paisley Park estate in Chanhassen, MN. The late music icon's relatives handed out round purple boxes containing a t-shirt and a booklet to crowds of people gathered outside his home and recording studio

 Prince's body was quietly released to his family just after 1pm Friday after a four hour autopsy at the Minnesota medical examiner's office in Ramsey. Pictured, who holds the Memorabilia boxes a fan mourns the star 

'He had very precise ideas about how he wanted his death to be handled and that didn't involve a huge funeral but a quiet service.

'He wanted it to be kept to the minimum of fuss. Prince was such figure you don't need a funeral to remember him by.

'The world has his music instead. He wanted to simply disappear with no fuss, no drama, no fanfare. It was just his style.

'Tyka was adamant she didn't wanted to leave him. Although in the past they often endured a fraught relationship in recent years and right now she has been like a rock throughout these dark days.

'As his only full blood relative alive Prince always looked out for Tyka and now she is doing all she can for him,' a family friend to The Mirror.

Tyka and husband Maurice Phillips are planning a massive memorial tribute for fans, who have lined the singer's estate Paisley Park in Minnesota with purple since his death.

Tyka will most likely inherit her brothers estimated £200 million fortune if he did not write out a will.  

Hundreds of people gathered outside Paisley Park, tying purple balloons to the gate outside and leaving notes to the artist who transcended generations. 

Former Prince drummer Sheila E. consoles a fan as she leaves Paisley Park. She was also the singer's fiancee, although the pair never married

Judith Hill, a fellow singer and good friend of Prince, holds a memorabilia box. Right, Princes' Purple 'reigns' on as guests celebrate the star's inimitable style and love of color

The lawn and gate at Paisley Park was strewn in purple balloons and flowers left by devastated fans, who honored the legend with Prince's signature color

Close friends of the star stroll together on the day of Prince's memorial service. Pictured center, singer Judith Hill and far right former lover Sheila E

Hundreds of people gathered outside Paisley Park, tying purple balloons to the gate outside and leaving notes to the artist who transcended generations. Pictured, memorabilia boxes that were given out to fans 

State troopers were gathered at the complex and helped escort family and friends inside as they began to pay their respects to the late singer, according to ET.

The lawn and gate at Paisley Park was strewn in purple balloons and flowers left by devastated fans, who honored the legend with Prince's signature color.

He spent his final night alone in his vast compound and was discovered unconscious in an elevator more than 13 hours after he was last seen alive.

Police said the 57-year-old pop superstar was last seen entering his $10million Minnesota estate at 8pm on Wednesday and was not found until the next morning.

Prince was taken to a Twin Cities hospital on Wednesday and was seen by a doctor, a law enforcement source told KSTP. He was then seen looking 'frail and nervous' in a Walgreens pharmacy just an hour before he returned to his home in Paisley Park at about 8pm, sources said.

Sources added that Prince may have overdosed on the highly addictive painkiller Percocet just days before. 

When Prince missed an early morning holistic medicine appointment on Thursday and couldn't be reached, staff went to check on him. He was then found unresponsive at his home.

Purple boxes were given out at Prince's Paisley Park home which contained gifts for the hundreds of well wishers that came to pay their respects

Maurice Phillips, the brother-in-law of Prince, spoke to mourners and fans who had gathered at the gates of Paisley Park on Saturday

 The artist was cremated secretly after his body was released to his family following his autopsy, which is pending results

Since his shocking death on Thursday hundreds of fans have visited 'The Purple One's compound to pay their own respects to the late singer

Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson said here were 'no obvious signs of trauma' on Prince's body when he was found at 9.43am on Thursday, and that investigators had ruled out suicide.

Olson, whose deputies responded to an emergency medical call at Prince's compound, said his officers carry a medication that can be given to someone suffering a drug overdose, but did not use it during the call.

An autopsy was done Friday but a cause of death hasn't been released, and authorities declined to comment on reports that Prince had been treated for a painkiller overdose less than a week earlier. 

 State troopers were gathered at the complex and helped escort family and friends inside as they began to pay their respects to the late singer

Following the autopsy, his body was returned to his family for cremation.   

Olson said that Prince, who was fully clothed when he was found unresponsive, died less than half an hour after he was discovered by staff despite paramedics' efforts to resuscitate him.

Prince's loved ones now face a weeks-long wait for toxicology results to come back, which should reveal whether he did overdose days before his death on Thursday, as sources have claimed

Sources told TMZ that he overdosed on Percocet that he was taking for a chronic hip problem he had been suffering for years.

Fans leave loving tributes to the star that that meant so much to so many. One woman, Wendy King, writes how Prince sang to her at a performance in the 80s and it 'touched her heart and her soul' 

The lawn and gate at Paisley Park was strewn in purple balloons and flowers left by devastated fans, who honored the legend with Prince's signature color

The sheriff also revealed that cops obtained a search warrant to root through the home for any clues as to how Prince died but did not reveal if they found anything of note.

Neither the police or a spokeswoman for the medical examiner would be drawn on suggestions that drugs may have played a role in the music legend's death. 

Meanwhile, in a touching tribute, Will Smith said he chatted with Prince on Wednesday night - meaning he may have been the last person to speak to him.

'I am stunned and heartbroken. I just spoke with him last night,' Smith wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday. 

He added: 'Today, Jada & I mourn with all of you the loss of a beautiful poet, a true inspiration, and one of the most magnificent artists to ever grace this earth.'

Prince's hip issues were no secret and he had used a cane to help him walk for years after causing irreparable damage to his hips with his lively stage performances.

He had long needed a double hip replacement, but was rumored to have turned down surgery because it would require a blood transfusion - which conflicted with his religious beliefs. 

A source told People that Prince had been battling an 'ongoing illness' and that 'the people close to him were very concerned for his health

Prince spent his final hours alone in his vast compound and was discovered unconscious in an elevator more than 13 hours after he was last seen alive. He was last seen an hour after this photograph was taken of him outside a Walgreens pharmacy 

Lonely: Police said Prince was last seen entering his $10million Minnesota estate at 8pm and was not found until the next morning

The Purple Rain star took so many Percocet pills that he had to be given a 'save shot' after his private plane made an emergency landing so he could be rushed to hospital last Friday, sources close to the star claimed.

Meanwhile, a source told People that Prince had been battling an 'ongoing illness'.

'The people close to him were very concerned for his health and indicated he'd been undergoing treatments which made his immune system weak,' the source said.

Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier told CBS that Prince did have surgery on his hips but was still struggling with pain, as well as having issues with his ankles. 

'The hip and ankle issues were a problem for him for so long, and for a man who loved to move and dance so much, it really bothered him,' Frazier said.

Prince's autopsy went ahead as planned today and his body has been handed over to his family.

'The Chief Medical Examiner for Midwest Medical Examiners Office, on behalf of Carver County Sheriff's Office, has performed the autopsy on Prince Rogers Nelson,' a spokesman for the examiner said.

'The autopsy began at 9am CDT and was completed by Dr A Quinn Strobl at 1pm local time. The body will be released to family later today.

'As part of a complete exam, relevant information regarding Mr Nelson's medical and family history will be taken into consideration.

'Midwest Medical Examiners Office will not release information until the exam is complete and all results are obtained. Gathering results will take several days and the results of a full toxicology scan could likely take weeks.'

Prince, 57, died at 10.07am on Thursday, less than 30 minutes after he was found unresponsive in an elevator at his compound on the outskirts of Minnesota.

Sources close to the Purple Rain star told TMZ today that he overdosed on Percocet last week as he flew home from a concert in Atlanta.

Prince had been taking the highly addictive opiate painkiller for a chronic hip problem he had suffered for years, it was claimed.

The singer was rumored to have turned down surgery on his hips because his strict Jehovah's Witness faith meant he could not have a blood transfusion.

Prince had used a cane to help him walk for years after causing irreparable damage to his hips with his lively stage performances. 

The Purple Rain star took so many Percocet pills that he had to be given a 'save shot' after his private plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, so he could be rushed to hospital last Friday, sources close to the star claimed.

His plane descended 45,000ft in just 17 minutes after an 'unresponsive male' was reported on board the plane, a source told NBC News, and the fire department and paramedics were alerted of the incoming medical incident. 

The superstar musician combined rock, R&B, soul and hip-hop to create a unique sound that led to him selling more than 100million records during his 40-year career. He is said to have overdosed on Percocet just a week before his death 

A Prince fan holds flowers outside the Paisley Park compound in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where dozens gathered to pay their respects

Mourners and television crews are seen gathered outside Prince's Paisley Park compound on the outskirts of Minnesota on Friday

Prince's representatives claimed he had been suffering from symptoms of 'severe flu'. 

The sources said doctors advised Prince to stay at the hospital for 24 hours, but when he wasn't given a private room, he and his representatives decided to leave. When he left the hospital, Prince 'was not doing well', the sources added.

He was released three hours later and made an appearance at a party in Minnesota the next day, telling fans to 'wait a few days before you waste any prayers'. 

It is unclear which hospital Prince was taken to in Moline following the emergency landing last week. The closest hospital to the airport is Trinity Regional Health System. The city is also home to the Genesis Health Plex.

Trinity Moline and nearby Trinity Rock Island hospitals have both denied treating Prince. 

Meanwhile, a source told People that Prince had been battling an 'ongoing illness'.

'The people close to him were very concerned for his health and indicated he'd been undergoing treatments which made his immune system weak,' the source said.

Entertainment Tonight's Kevin Frazier told CBS that Prince did have surgery on his hips but was still struggling with pain, as well as having issues with his ankles. 

'The hip and ankle issues were a problem for him for so long, and for a man who loved to move and dance so much, it really bothered him,' Frazier said. 

Prince made a surprise appearance at a dance party in Minnesota on Saturday, in what is believed to have been his final public appearance

On Thursday night, pictures emerged of Prince walking out of a Walgreens pharmacy just 15 hours before he was pronounced dead. 

It is not known whether he was picking up Percocet or any other prescription.  

It is unknown why he went to the store himself or if he picked up a prescription, though per Walgreens protocol, anyone with Prince's phone number and address could have retrieved medication for him.

Prince had always claimed that he was drug-free, making the news of his alleged overdose all the more shocking.

Prince had previously revealed that he was epileptic and had suffered seizures as a child. He was bullied at school over his condition which he said he dealt with by developing his iconic larger-than-life personality.

The singer, a devout Jehovah's Witness, later told his mother he had been cured by an angel. 

While Prince never made clear if he was still struggling to live with epilepsy, his song The Sacrifice of Victor tells the story of a boy who was 'epileptic 'til the age of seven'.

Meanwhile, Aretha Franklin made the bizarre suggestion that Prince may have contracted the Zika virus.