A ballot for tickets to the Westminster Abbey service of thanksgiving for Professor Stephen Hawking has opened to the public.
The world-renowned cosmologist who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in his twenties died at the age of 76 on March 14.
Regarded as one of the world's most brilliant theoretical physicists, the ashes of Prof Hawking will be interred at Westminster Abbey between the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin on June 15.
His three children, Robert, Lucy and Tim, are offering up to 1,000 free tickets to the public through the ballot system, run by the Stephen Hawking Foundation.
Mourners arrive at the funeral of Prof Stephen Hawking
Lucy Hawking said: "We are so grateful to Westminster Abbey for offering us the privilege of a service of thanksgiving for the extraordinary life of our father and for giving him such a distinguished final resting place.
"We are also very pleased to be able to offer tickets to the public so that our father's many admirers will have the chance to join in the service."
Set to be attended by Prof Hawking's family, friends, colleagues, academics and school children, Westminster Abbey will also be open to the public free of charge after the service so people can pay their respects at his grave.
The Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said: "The service of thanksgiving for the life and work of Stephen Hawking will celebrate not only his remarkable achievements as a scientist, but also his character and endurance through his years living with a devastating illness."
The ticket ballot for the service of thanksgiving closes at midnight on May 15 and applications for tickets can be made by visiting www.stephenhawkinginterment.com
Additional reporting by Press Association
