No birthday burial; Michael Jackson's funeral postponed to Sept. 3

The gold casket of Michael Jackson sits on the stage at the memorial service for the late pop star in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. (AP / Mario Anzuoni, Pool)

Text:

The Associated Press
Published Friday, August 21, 2009 2:28PM EDT

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson won't be laid to rest on what would have been his 51st birthday after all.

A spokesman for the Jackson family says the King of Pop's funeral has been postponed until Sept. 3, five days after the singer's birthday.

Spokesman Ken Sunshine, in a statement Friday, offered no reason for the delay.

Jackson's family had planned a private daytime service for Aug. 29. The pop superstar will now be interred in The Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn-Glendale at a private evening ceremony.

The cemetery is spread over several hills on land roughly 13 kilometres north of downtown Los Angeles. The mausoleum includes a stained-glass replica of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and replicas of Michelangelo's statues.