MYSTERY surrounded the whereabouts of Michael Jackson’s body last night, a day after the public were given a final opportunity to say goodbye to the King of Pop.

His gold-plated coffin was removed from the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, yesterday, after a memorial event which saw stars and Jackson’s 11-year-old daughter pay emotional tributes to the late singer.

But his final resting place has not been announced by the family, with speculation ranging from a private cemetery in LA to the sprawling Neverland ranch, in Santa Barbara.

A private memorial was held at Forest Lawn, in Hollywood Hills, prior to the public memorial, but it is not thought that Jackson will be buried among the other Hollywood stars interred at the graveyard.

Likewise, there is doubt over whether the family will be allowed to bury the Thriller singer at Neverland, his former home.

Permission is needed to bury people at the estate and, with poor transport links to the property, local authorities may fear the grave becoming a pilgrimage for Jackson’s millions of fans worldwide.

Yesterday, followers of the singer were given the opportunity to celebrate his life and music during a star-studded public memorial.

The event, billed as the biggest celebrity send-off in history, ran at least 30 minutes longer than scheduled after Mariah Carey opened proceedings with a version of the Jackson Five’s ballad, I’ll Be There.

JACKSON SCENE AXED: P12