Italy gives honourable farewell to its longest serving Prime Minister Berlusconi

Italy honoured its longest serving premier yesterday as Silvio Berlusconi was laid to rest during a State Funeral – with tears from his young girlfriend, who sat next to his two ex-wives.

The life of the controversial ­figure, who died aged 86 on Monday, was celebrated in the majestic setting of Milan Cathedral amid a day of national mourning.

Outside the church a crowd of 20,000 people watched the funeral on specially erected maxi-screens.

The coffin of the former AC Milan boss and leader of the centre-right Forza Italia party was carried into the cathedral amid adoring football chants of, “There is only one President” from the masses of well-wishers.

Attendees included national and party leaders past and present from across the political spectrum, most notably Hungary’s President Viktor Orban.

Berlusconi is survived by his 33-year-old girlfriend, Marta Fascina, who was at his bedside as he succumbed to blood cancer.

Mr Berlusconi’s children walked into the service with the scandal-prone billionaire’s brother, Paolo and Ms Fascina.

Despite being Italy’s longest-serving premier, his tenure was often mired in controversy amid sex-fuelled “bunga bunga” parties, underage prostitutes and allegations of corruption.

A one-time cruise ship crooner, media tycoon Mr Berlusconi used his television networks and immense wealth to launch his long political career, inspiring both loyalty and loathing.

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