George Michael’s sister Melanie Panayiotou is remembered in wake at late star’s Highgate home

George Michael’s sister Melanie Panayiotou was remembered by loved ones on Thursday at a wake held at the late Wham! star’s Highgate home in North London.

Guests including Martin Kemp, his wife Shirlie and son Roman were spotted gathering outside the Grade II listed mansion as they led the heartbroken mourners.

Melanie, who died on Christmas Day aged 59 exactly three years after her brother, is said to have been buried earlier on Thursday, it is not known where it took place. 

Mourners: Guests including Martin Kemp, his wife Shirlie and son Roman (left) were spotted gathering outside the late George Michael’s Grade II listed mansion in Highgate as they led the heartbroken mourners at Melanie Panayiotou’s wake 

Remembered: George's sister Melanie was remembered by loved ones on Thursday, almost a month after her death (the two late siblings pictured together in the 1980s)

Remembered: George’s sister Melanie was remembered by loved ones on Thursday, almost a month after her death (the two late siblings pictured together in the 1980s) 

Wearing all-black, Martin, George’s former back-up singer Shirlie and Roman led the devastated arrivals at George’s former Highgate home, which was left for Melanie after his shock 2016 death. 

The trio are said to have joined fellow celebrities and loved ones at the intimate wake held at the iconic mansion, which has been inundated with tributes from heartbroken fans.  

Shirlie found fame in the 1980s as a backing dancer with Wham! and she was one of seven named beneficiaries in George’s will – in addition to the late singer’s family.

Highgate: Melanie, who died on Christmas Day aged 59 exactly three years after her brother, is said to have been buried earlier on Thursday, it is not known where it took place

Highgate: Melanie, who died on Christmas Day aged 59 exactly three years after her brother, is said to have been buried earlier on Thursday, it is not known where it took place

Devastated: Wearing all-black, Martin, Shirlie and Roman (L-R) led the devastated arrivals at George's former Highgate home, which was left for Melanie after his shock 2016 death

Devastated: Wearing all-black, Martin, Shirlie and Roman (L-R) led the devastated arrivals at George’s former Highgate home, which was left for Melanie after his shock 2016 death

It comes after it was reported in December that Melanie would be buried alongside her brother’s unmarked grave at Highgate Cemetery, where the late siblings’ mother is also buried.   

A source said she will ‘definitely’ get a headstone, unlike George as his family does not want it to become a mecca for fans.

They told the Daily Star Sunday: ‘George still doesn’t have a gravestone three years after his death, and it’s going to stay that way.

‘Now that they will also have to visit the family plot to mourn Melanie, they don’t want to be wading through fans and their tributes just to pay respect to the growing number of their tragic loved ones.’

Wake: The trio are said to have joined fellow celebrities and loved ones at the intimate wake held at the iconic mansion, which has been inundated with tributes from heartbroken fans

Wake: The trio are said to have joined fellow celebrities and loved ones at the intimate wake held at the iconic mansion, which has been inundated with tributes from heartbroken fans

Family friend: Roman recently spoke about his mother Shirlie's best friend and his 'uncle' George on I'm A Celebrity in November, calling him 'an amazing guy'

Family friend: Roman recently spoke about his mother Shirlie’s best friend and his ‘uncle’ George on I’m A Celebrity in November, calling him ‘an amazing guy’ 

Siblings: It comes after it was reported in December that Melanie would be buried alongside her brother's unmarked grave at Highgate Cemetery, where the late siblings' mother is also buried

Siblings: It comes after it was reported in December that Melanie would be buried alongside her brother’s unmarked grave at Highgate Cemetery, where the late siblings’ mother is also buried 

The family has already had to deal with overzealous fans crowding outside his home and leaving flowers and memorabilia, turning it into a shrine.

They have paid for extra security at his grave and even feared grave robbers.

Following George’s death at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in 2016, Ms Panayiotou, who never married and had no children, shared the £98 million fortune left in his will with older sister Yioda. 

Her body was found at her £6.2 million home in Hampstead, North London, previously owned by her brother on Christmas Day. 

Way back when: Shirlie found fame in the 1980s as a backing dancer with Wham! and she was one of seven named beneficiaries in George's will - in addition to the late singer's family (pictured centre, right, with George in the 80s)

Way back when: Shirlie found fame in the 1980s as a backing dancer with Wham! and she was one of seven named beneficiaries in George’s will – in addition to the late singer’s family (pictured centre, right, with George in the 80s) 

The cause of Ms Panayiotou’s death is unknown but police are not treating it as suspicious. 

Sources say she had become a near recluse in her final years since her brother’s untimely death.

As well as travelling the world with George, the hairdresser became a regular on the London nightclub scene in the early 1990s. 

Like her brother, however, she was devastated by the death of their mother Lesley in 1997.

Family: Following George's death at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in 2016, Ms Panayiotou, who never married and had no children, shared the £98 million fortune left in his will with older sister Yioda (George and Melanie pictured far right in 1985)

Family: Following George’s death at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in 2016, Ms Panayiotou, who never married and had no children, shared the £98 million fortune left in his will with older sister Yioda (George and Melanie pictured far right in 1985) 

When George later began a well publicised battle with drugs and alcohol, she devoted herself to preventing him being consumed by his demons. Sources say she was ‘heartbroken’ and in ‘desperate pain’ when she failed.  

After news of Melanie’s death broke, George’s backing singer Shirlie paid tribute to the late hairdresser, describing her as ‘one of the kindest most considerate of others I had ever met’.

She added: ‘We both shared a great love of flowers and many of the flowers in my photos were hers as she loved me photographing them. Her kindness to me and others even when she was in pain herself was incredible.

‘I pray she is now with her beautiful brother and her lovely mother. Rest in peace dear Mel.’  

Tribute: After news of Melanie's death broke, George's backing singer Shirlie paid tribute to the late hairdresser, describing her as 'one of the kindest most considerate of others I had ever met' (Shirlie and George pictured together in 1983)

Tribute: After news of Melanie’s death broke, George’s backing singer Shirlie paid tribute to the late hairdresser, describing her as ‘one of the kindest most considerate of others I had ever met’ (Shirlie and George pictured together in 1983) 

Meanwhile Roman recently spoke about his mother’s best friend and his ‘uncle’ George on I’m A Celebrity in November, calling him ‘an amazing guy’.

He said: ‘You’d see him at dinners, Christmas, the lot. It is really nice that all the memories I have are so nice, going on holidays, and having my parents compete with Christmas presents.

‘One year, I must have been four or five and my dad bought me a bike, a Raleigh bike.

‘I remember George came round to the house and brought in my present and he’d gone to Harrods and bought one of those electric cars but not just that, it was a Batmobile. I’ve still got it. 

‘Memories like that, they’re so nice to have but it’s strange because for me it was just my mum’s best mate.’ 

Sweet: Roman shared during his time on I'm A Celebrity in 2019 that George accompanied his mother Shirlie on her first date with his father Martin (pictured together in 1998 ten years after their marriage)

Sweet: Roman shared during his time on I’m A Celebrity in 2019 that George accompanied his mother Shirlie on her first date with his father Martin (pictured together in 1998 ten years after their marriage)

Roman also shared that George accompanied his mother Shirlie on her first date with his father Martin. 

He said: ‘My mother always said that she said to George Michael at a party that she was going to marry him [Martin]. They were at some party and one of George’s friends brought him over and they started talking.

‘My dad gave my mum his phone number and my mum went back to George’s house and George forced my mum to call him.

‘But their first date, George went with them. My mum didn’t want to go on her own. They went to see Sade at the Camden Palace. My dad spent the whole date trying to get rid of him.’ 

Memories: Roman also revealed how George bought him a Batmobile from Harrods one Christmas when he was a child (pictured on I'm A Celebrity in November)

Memories: Roman also revealed how George bought him a Batmobile from Harrods one Christmas when he was a child (pictured on I’m A Celebrity in November) 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk