More than two years after his passing, Paul O’Grady’s grave has finally received its permanent headstone — a deeply personal tribute that captures the spirit of the beloved TV icon.
The presenter, known across Britain for his warm humour and compassion, died at his Kent home in March 2023, aged 67, following a cardiac arrhythmia. He was laid to rest at St Rumwold’s Churchyard in Bonnington, Kent.
For over two years, visitors to the site had seen wooden crosses and small ornaments marking his grave. Now, after what his husband Andre Portasio called a “lengthy application process,” a beautifully designed headstone has been placed at the site.
Sharing the emotional news on Instagram, Andre wrote that he was “very pleased” to announce the completion of the final design, which honours both Paul and his late partner Brendan Murphy, who died from an inoperable brain tumour in 2005. The two are buried side by side.
The headstone bears both men’s names, along with a quote by philosopher Michel de Montaigne — one of Paul’s favourites — which reads: “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be one’s own self.”
Adding an even more personal touch, a small figurine of O’Grady’s beloved dog, Buster, sits beside the stone — mirroring the tribute found at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where O’Grady was a lifelong ambassador.
Andre expressed his gratitude to the Commissary Court of the Diocese of Canterbury, the Parish of Bonnington, and the Church of St Rumwold for granting the permission for the final design. “I miss him dearly every day,” he wrote, “but I am grateful that his resting place is now complete. I hope he would be pleased with the final design.”
