The singer, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, was 71.
His charismatic performances - particularly alongside fellow tenors Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras - helped bring a new audience to opera.
Pavarotti had cancer surgery in July 2006 in New York, five months after his last performance. He had not made any public appearances since then.
He underwent five bouts of chemotherapy in the past year, and was admitted to hospital with a fever on 8 August. He was released two weeks later following diagnostic tests.
On the morning that the news of Princess Diana's death broke my son (then 11) burst into our room and announced the news. "How did she die?" I asked - he went off to find out can came back yelling "She was being chased by Pavarotti and her car crashed"
Of course, the announcement of his death allowed us a fresh round of teasing!
He was married to his first wife for 35 years and left her in 1995 for his secretary, who became his second wife. he had three daughters with wife number 1 and one daughter with wife number 2.Did you know Elton John is replacing him in the Three Tenors? That'll make two tenors and a nine-bob note.
Apparently his wife was looking very miserable at the funeral. She looked like she'd found a pound and lost a tenor.
