Mourners including Steps singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins and TV personality Kim Woodburn have begun to arrive for the funeral of Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne.
The service for the TV star, real name James Lee Williams, who died earlier this month, is being held at a church in Denbighshire, North Wales.
Watkins, wearing a red tartan suit, walked towards the church with comedian Jayde Adams, who wore a bright green coat and trilby hat.
Singer Jade Thirlwall and former X Factor contestant Marcus Collins were also among the mourners arriving, with many wearing green for the service and Vivienne Westwood badges worn on the lapels of some of the men’s suits.
A horse-drawn carriage arrived outside the church for The Vivienne’s funeral, with a coffin inside topped with a white floral arrangement.
Floral tributes in a hearse read ‘Vivienne’ and ‘Son’.
Williams shot to wider fame after winning the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. They competed in the seventh season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars in 2022 and finished third on Dancing On Ice in 2023.
Jade Thirlwall and Marcus Collins wore sunglasses to the service
Steps star Ian ‘H’ Watkins (right) arrives for the funeral of The Vivienne
Jennifer Ellison arrives at the to remember The Vivienne
Kim Woodburn arrives for the funeral
A horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of The Vivienne arrives at a church in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire
The Vivienne died suddenly last month
Williams, known as The Vivienne, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and placed third in ITV’s Dancing On Ice in 2023.
During their career, The Vivienne also competed on an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the US in 2022, the only UK contestant for that series.
They also starred in BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020, and appeared on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted For Stand Up To Cancer in 2022.
Williams, who was born in Wales, adopted their drag name as they were known for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing.
The Vivienne’s coffin arrives at the church in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire
Floral tributes in the hearse read ‘Vivienne’ and ‘Son’.
