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By Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – First lady Melania Trump will host a private White House screening on Saturday of a new film documenting her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, an adviser said. The movie, "Melania," is set for a global release on January 30. Saturday's showing will be the first time the president, her family and close friends see the film in full, said Marc Beckman, the first lady’s outside adviser and agent. The film offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the first lady, who has kept a low public profile during her husband’s second term. The trailer opens on Inauguration Day in January 2025, showing her donning a navy wide-brimmed hat for the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. It also depicts her role as an adviser to the president, including a moment in which she encourages him to emphasize “peacemaker and unifier” in his inaugural address. Beckman, who produced the film, oversaw the $40 million movie deal with Amazon's MGM Studios, plus a follow-up documentary series set for release later this year focusing on some of Melania Trump's priorities, including children in foster care.  "This is not a political film at all," Beckman said in an interview, adding that the first lady spearheaded the film's creative direction. The movie highlights her fashion choices, diplomatic engagements and the operations surrounding her Secret Service protection. Beckman said viewers also will see moments that capture the president's sense of humor. Ahead of the public theatrical release of the film next week, the president and first lady will attend a premiere on Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors.  The first lady is also scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to promote the film, Beckman added.  (Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Grammy Award-winning opera star Renee Fleming has withdrawn from performances in May at the Kennedy Center, with her withdrawal coming during a wave of cancellations at the Washington institution since its takeover by President Donald Trump. A message on the Kennedy Center's website said Fleming, who had been scheduled to appear with the National Symphony Orchestra in May, had to withdraw "due to a scheduling conflict." WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and filled its board with his allies last year. In December the institution's board voted to rename it the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, or Trump Kennedy Center for short. Since then, many groups and artists have withdrawn from the center, citing the Republican leader's takeover. Democrats, noting that the center's name was established by Congress, have said Trump's rebranding has no force of law. John F. Kennedy's family denounced the renaming move as undermining the slain president's legacy. KEY QUOTES "Renee Fleming regrets that, due to a scheduling conflict, she must withdraw from her May 2026 concerts with the NSO," the message on the institution's website said. "A new soloist and repertoire will be announced at a later date, and the remainder of the program remains unchanged." CONTEXT Last year, Fleming left her role as artistic adviser-at-large at the center, citing the departures of the institution's previous leadership. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington;)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – "Brand Beckham" always comes first, Brooklyn Beckham said in an outburst against his parents David and Victoria this week that shone a spotlight on the legal protections a growing number of famous families attach to their own names. The Instagram post by the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham not only fuelled online gossip around the world but also highlighted a more unusual aspect of celebrity trademarks. UK filings show the names of David and Victoria's four children are registered as trademarks, with Victoria listed as owner in her capacity as a parent and guardian. Brooklyn's name was registered as a trademark in Britain in 2016, when he was 17. Brooklyn's registration, covering beauty, cosmetics, clothing, toys and entertainment and other classes, according to the UK Intellectual Property Office, will expire in December. WHAT IS THE TRADEMARK DISPUTE ABOUT? In his post, Brooklyn said that ahead of his 2022 marriage to Nicola Peltz, daughter of U.S. billionaire and activist investor Nelson Peltz, his parents had pressured "me into signing away the rights to my name". He said his family valued "public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first."  Brooklyn has not elaborated on what he was asked to sign and his parents' representatives have not responded to requests to comment from Reuters and do not appear to have spoken on the issue. In February that year, Authentic Brands Group entered a strategic partnership to co-own and manage David Beckham's brand. It is not clear if Brooklyn's trademark was involved. Celebrities have long trademarked their names for spinoff products and the practice has increased with the rise of endorsements and social media to prevent others profiting from their names without permission. Disputes over such trademarks are not uncommon. Australian singer Kylie Minogue opposed efforts by U.S. reality television star Kylie Jenner to trademark "Kylie" for commercial use, citing prior use and the risk of consumer confusion. Minogue later said the two reached an agreement. Singer Katy Perry has been in a years-long trademark battle with a Sydney-based fashion designer whose label uses her own birth name, "Katie Perry". WHAT ARE BROOKLYN'S OPTIONS? The Beckhams' multi-million-pound family business was built by David, the former England soccer captain who agreed a string of commercial deals while playing at Manchester United and Real Madrid in the 1990s and 2000s, and Victoria, a member of the Spice Girls, the UK's biggest pop group at the time. Victoria launched her own fashion label in 2008 and beauty brand in 2019 and the couple have each lent their names to multiple products, including collaborations with other brands. Their four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven, make frequent appearances at Victoria's fashion shows and online. Brooklyn and Romeo have collaborated with brands. Mark Engelman, an intellectual property barrister at Burnell Chambers, said registering a trademark was relatively inexpensive. "If (the children) do well, they can earn money from selling products or licensing the name to third parties," he said. Registering a trademark in Britain costs from 170 pounds ($230), plus 50 pounds for each additional class, and lasts 10 years. In the United States, fees start at around $350. James Corlett, managing partner at law firm Beyond Corporate Law, said trademarking children's names for future commercial use was unusual but not unprecedented. "You're talking about two very famous individuals throughout the '90s and noughties in particular, who came together to create essentially a powerhouse brand, which has obviously been protected by the use of trademarks," he said.  "They've been very savvy and astute with their use of trademarks. And I think the  registration of Brooklyn's name is merely an extension of that." Corlett said Brooklyn, who is now aged 26, could seek to oppose any re-registration or extension of the family's trademark of his name when the renewal comes up.  If the name had not been actively used, he could challenge a renewal or apply for a trademark he could exploit independently. "That's where things get potentially very interesting," he said. "The key element of Brooklyn's name is the 'Beckham' part of it, which would potentially conflict with the existing Beckham registrations." Any dispute could ultimately be resolved through negotiation, potentially limiting Brooklyn's use of his name in core "Brand Beckham" categories such as fashion or fragrance, he added. Brooklyn already signalled a shift by adding Peltz to his surname after his marriage. He uses the name in marketing his Cloud23 hot sauce, signing endorsements with the initials "BPB". (Reporting by Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Rachel Armstrong and Philippa Fletcher)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Fixes date in dateline to January 23) By Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – First lady Melania Trump will host a private White House screening on Saturday of a new film documenting her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, an adviser said. The movie, "Melania," is set for a global release on January 30. Saturday's showing will be the first time the president, her family and close friends see the film in full, said Marc Beckman, the first lady’s outside adviser and agent. The film offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the first lady, who has kept a low public profile during her husband’s second term. The trailer opens on Inauguration Day in January 2025, showing her donning a navy wide-brimmed hat for the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. It also depicts her role as an adviser to the president, including a moment in which she encourages him to emphasize “peacemaker and unifier” in his inaugural address. Beckman, who produced the film, oversaw the $40 million movie deal with Amazon's MGM Studios, plus a follow-up documentary series set for release later this year focusing on some of Melania Trump's priorities, including children in foster care.  "This is not a political film at all," Beckman said in an interview, adding that the first lady spearheaded the film's creative direction. The movie highlights her fashion choices, diplomatic engagements and the operations surrounding her Secret Service protection. Beckman said viewers also will see moments that capture the president's sense of humor. Ahead of the public theatrical release of the film next week, the president and first lady will attend a premiere on Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors.  The first lady is also scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to promote the film, Beckman added.  (Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – First lady Melania Trump will host a private White House screening on Saturday of a new film documenting her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, an adviser said. The movie, "Melania," is set for a global release on January 30. Saturday's showing will be the first time the president, her family and close friends see the film in full, said Marc Beckman, the first lady’s outside adviser and agent. The film offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the first lady, who has kept a low public profile during her husband’s second term. The trailer opens on Inauguration Day in January 2025, showing her donning a navy wide-brimmed hat for the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. It also depicts her role as an adviser to the president, including a moment in which she encourages him to emphasize “peacemaker and unifier” in his inaugural address. Beckman, who produced the film, oversaw the $40 million movie deal with Amazon's MGM Studios, plus a follow-up documentary series set for release later this year focusing on some of Melania Trump's priorities, including children in foster care.  "This is not a political film at all," Beckman said in an interview, adding that the first lady spearheaded the film's creative direction. The movie highlights her fashion choices, diplomatic engagements and the operations surrounding her Secret Service protection. Beckman said viewers also will see moments that capture the president's sense of humor. Ahead of the public theatrical release of the film next week, the president and first lady will attend a premiere on Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors.  The first lady is also scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to promote the film, Beckman added.  (Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – First lady Melania Trump will host a private White House screening on Saturday of a new film documenting her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, an adviser said. The movie, "Melania," is set for a global release on January 30. Saturday's showing will be the first time the president, her family and close friends see the film in full, said Marc Beckman, the first lady’s outside adviser and agent. The film offers rare behind-the-scenes access to the first lady, who has kept a low public profile during her husband’s second term. The trailer opens on Inauguration Day in January 2025, showing her donning a navy wide-brimmed hat for the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. It also depicts her role as an adviser to the president, including a moment in which she encourages him to emphasize “peacemaker and unifier” in his inaugural address. Beckman, who produced the film, oversaw the $40 million movie deal with Amazon's MGM Studios, plus a follow-up documentary series set for release later this year focusing on some of Melania Trump's priorities, including children in foster care.  "This is not a political film at all," Beckman said in an interview, adding that the first lady spearheaded the film's creative direction. The movie highlights her fashion choices, diplomatic engagements and the operations surrounding her Secret Service protection. Beckman said viewers also will see moments that capture the president's sense of humor. Ahead of the public theatrical release of the film next week, the president and first lady will attend a premiere on Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center by the Trump-appointed board of directors.  The first lady is also scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday to promote the film, Beckman added.  (Reporting by Bo Erickson; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – "Brand Beckham" always comes first, Brooklyn Beckham said in an outburst against his parents David and Victoria this week that shone a spotlight on the legal protections a growing number of famous families attach to their own names. The Instagram post by the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham not only fuelled online gossip around the world but also highlighted a more unusual aspect of celebrity trademarks. UK filings show the names of David and Victoria's four children are registered as trademarks, with Victoria listed as owner in her capacity as a parent and guardian. Brooklyn's name was registered as a trademark in Britain in 2016, when he was 17. Brooklyn's registration, covering beauty, cosmetics, clothing, toys and entertainment and other classes, according to the UK Intellectual Property Office, will expire in December. WHAT IS THE TRADEMARK DISPUTE ABOUT? In his post, Brooklyn said that ahead of his 2022 marriage to Nicola Peltz, daughter of U.S. billionaire and activist investor Nelson Peltz, his parents had pressured "me into signing away the rights to my name". He said his family valued "public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first."  Brooklyn has not elaborated on what he was asked to sign and his parents' representatives have not responded to requests to comment from Reuters and do not appear to have spoken on the issue. In February that year, Authentic Brands Group entered a strategic partnership to co-own and manage David Beckham's brand. It is not clear if Brooklyn's trademark was involved. Celebrities have long trademarked their names for spinoff products and the practice has increased with the rise of endorsements and social media to prevent others profiting from their names without permission. Disputes over such trademarks are not uncommon. Australian singer Kylie Minogue opposed efforts by U.S. reality television star Kylie Jenner to trademark "Kylie" for commercial use, citing prior use and the risk of consumer confusion. Minogue later said the two reached an agreement. Singer Katy Perry has been in a years-long trademark battle with a Sydney-based fashion designer whose label uses her own birth name, "Katie Perry". WHAT ARE BROOKLYN'S OPTIONS? The Beckhams' multi-million-pound family business was built by David, the former England soccer captain who agreed a string of commercial deals while playing at Manchester United and Real Madrid in the 1990s and 2000s, and Victoria, a member of the Spice Girls, the UK's biggest pop group at the time. Victoria launched her own fashion label in 2008 and beauty brand in 2019 and the couple have each lent their names to multiple products, including collaborations with other brands. Their four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven, make frequent appearances at Victoria's fashion shows and online. Brooklyn and Romeo have collaborated with brands. Mark Engelman, an intellectual property barrister at Burnell Chambers, said registering a trademark was relatively inexpensive. "If (the children) do well, they can earn money from selling products or licensing the name to third parties," he said. Registering a trademark in Britain costs from 170 pounds ($230), plus 50 pounds for each additional class, and lasts 10 years. In the United States, fees start at around $350. James Corlett, managing partner at law firm Beyond Corporate Law, said trademarking children's names for future commercial use was unusual but not unprecedented. "You're talking about two very famous individuals throughout the '90s and noughties in particular, who came together to create essentially a powerhouse brand, which has obviously been protected by the use of trademarks," he said.  "They've been very savvy and astute with their use of trademarks. And I think the  registration of Brooklyn's name is merely an extension of that." Corlett said Brooklyn, who is now aged 26, could seek to oppose any re-registration or extension of the family's trademark of his name when the renewal comes up.  If the name had not been actively used, he could challenge a renewal or apply for a trademark he could exploit independently. "That's where things get potentially very interesting," he said. "The key element of Brooklyn's name is the 'Beckham' part of it, which would potentially conflict with the existing Beckham registrations." Any dispute could ultimately be resolved through negotiation, potentially limiting Brooklyn's use of his name in core "Brand Beckham" categories such as fashion or fragrance, he added. Brooklyn already signalled a shift by adding Peltz to his surname after his marriage. He uses the name in marketing his Cloud23 hot sauce, signing endorsements with the initials "BPB". (Reporting by Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Rachel Armstrong and Philippa Fletcher)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – "Brand Beckham" always comes first, Brooklyn Beckham said in an outburst against his parents David and Victoria this week that shone a spotlight on the legal protections a growing number of famous families attach to their own names. The Instagram post by the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham not only fuelled online gossip around the world but also highlighted a more unusual aspect of celebrity trademarks. UK filings show the names of David and Victoria's four children are registered as trademarks, with Victoria listed as owner in her capacity as a parent and guardian. Brooklyn's name was registered as a trademark in Britain in 2016, when he was 17. Brooklyn's registration, covering beauty, cosmetics, clothing, toys and entertainment and other classes, according to the UK Intellectual Property Office, will expire in December. WHAT IS THE TRADEMARK DISPUTE ABOUT? In his post, Brooklyn said that ahead of his 2022 marriage to Nicola Peltz, daughter of U.S. billionaire and activist investor Nelson Peltz, his parents had pressured "me into signing away the rights to my name". He said his family valued "public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first."  Brooklyn has not elaborated on what he was asked to sign and his parents' representatives have not responded to requests to comment from Reuters and do not appear to have spoken on the issue. In February that year, Authentic Brands Group entered a strategic partnership to co-own and manage David Beckham's brand. It is not clear if Brooklyn's trademark was involved. Celebrities have long trademarked their names for spinoff products and the practice has increased with the rise of endorsements and social media to prevent others profiting from their names without permission. Disputes over such trademarks are not uncommon. Australian singer Kylie Minogue opposed efforts by U.S. reality television star Kylie Jenner to trademark "Kylie" for commercial use, citing prior use and the risk of consumer confusion. Minogue later said the two reached an agreement. Singer Katy Perry has been in a years-long trademark battle with a Sydney-based fashion designer whose label uses her own birth name, "Katie Perry". WHAT ARE BROOKLYN'S OPTIONS? The Beckhams' multi-million-pound family business was built by David, the former England soccer captain who agreed a string of commercial deals while playing at Manchester United and Real Madrid in the 1990s and 2000s, and Victoria, a member of the Spice Girls, the UK's biggest pop group at the time. Victoria launched her own fashion label in 2008 and beauty brand in 2019 and the couple have each lent their names to multiple products, including collaborations with other brands. Their four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven, make frequent appearances at Victoria's fashion shows and online. Brooklyn and Romeo have collaborated with brands. Mark Engelman, an intellectual property barrister at Burnell Chambers, said registering a trademark was relatively inexpensive. "If (the children) do well, they can earn money from selling products or licensing the name to third parties," he said. Registering a trademark in Britain costs from 170 pounds ($230), plus 50 pounds for each additional class, and lasts 10 years. In the United States, fees start at around $350. James Corlett, managing partner at law firm Beyond Corporate Law, said trademarking children's names for future commercial use was unusual but not unprecedented. "You're talking about two very famous individuals throughout the '90s and noughties in particular, who came together to create essentially a powerhouse brand, which has obviously been protected by the use of trademarks," he said.  "They've been very savvy and astute with their use of trademarks. And I think the  registration of Brooklyn's name is merely an extension of that." Corlett said Brooklyn, who is now aged 26, could seek to oppose any re-registration or extension of the family's trademark of his name when the renewal comes up.  If the name had not been actively used, he could challenge a renewal or apply for a trademark he could exploit independently. "That's where things get potentially very interesting," he said. "The key element of Brooklyn's name is the 'Beckham' part of it, which would potentially conflict with the existing Beckham registrations." Any dispute could ultimately be resolved through negotiation, potentially limiting Brooklyn's use of his name in core "Brand Beckham" categories such as fashion or fragrance, he added. Brooklyn already signalled a shift by adding Peltz to his surname after his marriage. He uses the name in marketing his Cloud23 hot sauce, signing endorsements with the initials "BPB". (Reporting by Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Rachel Armstrong and Philippa Fletcher)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – "Brand Beckham" always comes first, Brooklyn Beckham said in an outburst against his parents David and Victoria this week that shone a spotlight on the legal protections a growing number of famous families attach to their own names. The Instagram post by the eldest son of David and Victoria Beckham not only fuelled online gossip around the world but also highlighted a more unusual aspect of celebrity trademarks. UK filings show the names of David and Victoria's four children are registered as trademarks, with Victoria listed as owner in her capacity as a parent and guardian. Brooklyn's name was registered as a trademark in Britain in 2016, when he was 17. Brooklyn's registration, covering beauty, cosmetics, clothing, toys and entertainment and other classes, according to the UK Intellectual Property Office, will expire in December. WHAT IS THE TRADEMARK DISPUTE ABOUT? In his post, Brooklyn said that ahead of his 2022 marriage to Nicola Peltz, daughter of U.S. billionaire and activist investor Nelson Peltz, his parents had pressured "me into signing away the rights to my name". He said his family valued "public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first."  Brooklyn has not elaborated on what he was asked to sign and his parents' representatives have not responded to requests to comment from Reuters and do not appear to have spoken on the issue. In February that year, Authentic Brands Group entered a strategic partnership to co-own and manage David Beckham's brand. It is not clear if Brooklyn's trademark was involved. Celebrities have long trademarked their names for spinoff products and the practice has increased with the rise of endorsements and social media to prevent others profiting from their names without permission. Disputes over such trademarks are not uncommon. Australian singer Kylie Minogue opposed efforts by U.S. reality television star Kylie Jenner to trademark "Kylie" for commercial use, citing prior use and the risk of consumer confusion. Minogue later said the two reached an agreement. Singer Katy Perry has been in a years-long trademark battle with a Sydney-based fashion designer whose label uses her own birth name, "Katie Perry". WHAT ARE BROOKLYN'S OPTIONS? The Beckhams' multi-million-pound family business was built by David, the former England soccer captain who agreed a string of commercial deals while playing at Manchester United and Real Madrid in the 1990s and 2000s, and Victoria, a member of the Spice Girls, the UK's biggest pop group at the time. Victoria launched her own fashion label in 2008 and beauty brand in 2019 and the couple have each lent their names to multiple products, including collaborations with other brands. Their four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Seven, make frequent appearances at Victoria's fashion shows and online. Brooklyn and Romeo have collaborated with brands. Mark Engelman, an intellectual property barrister at Burnell Chambers, said registering a trademark was relatively inexpensive. "If (the children) do well, they can earn money from selling products or licensing the name to third parties," he said. Registering a trademark in Britain costs from 170 pounds ($230), plus 50 pounds for each additional class, and lasts 10 years. In the United States, fees start at around $350. James Corlett, managing partner at law firm Beyond Corporate Law, said trademarking children's names for future commercial use was unusual but not unprecedented. "You're talking about two very famous individuals throughout the '90s and noughties in particular, who came together to create essentially a powerhouse brand, which has obviously been protected by the use of trademarks," he said.  "They've been very savvy and astute with their use of trademarks. And I think the  registration of Brooklyn's name is merely an extension of that." Corlett said Brooklyn, who is now aged 26, could seek to oppose any re-registration or extension of the family's trademark of his name when the renewal comes up.  If the name had not been actively used, he could challenge a renewal or apply for a trademark he could exploit independently. "That's where things get potentially very interesting," he said. "The key element of Brooklyn's name is the 'Beckham' part of it, which would potentially conflict with the existing Beckham registrations." Any dispute could ultimately be resolved through negotiation, potentially limiting Brooklyn's use of his name in core "Brand Beckham" categories such as fashion or fragrance, he added. Brooklyn already signalled a shift by adding Peltz to his surname after his marriage. He uses the name in marketing his Cloud23 hot sauce, signing endorsements with the initials "BPB". (Reporting by Paul Sandle and Marie-Louise Gumuchian; editing by Rachel Armstrong and Philippa Fletcher)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Matteo Negri and Giulia Segreti ROME, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Valentino, Italy's haute couture "emperor", was laid to rest in Rome on Friday, with the distinctive red he championed in his collections echoed in splashes of crimson among the black-clad mourners. The biggest names in fashion – including Donatella Versace, Tom Ford and Maria Grazia Chiuri – gathered in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, a church designed by Michelangelo and built on the ruins of ancient Roman baths. Valentino's co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti, dressed in a sharply tailored black satin suit, and the designer's last partner, Bruce Hoeksema, accompanied the plain wooden coffin as it entered the church, drawing applause from the crowds outside. "Through him, I discovered beauty, a beauty that followed us throughout our lives, that has kept us busy. We met when we were kids, we dreamed the same dreams, we managed to realise some of them, I would even say many of them," Giammetti said in his eulogy. In an improvised speech, Hoeksema said: "Valentino, you were the person I spoke to, not the person I spoke about. You were beside me when words were not needed. Life was not always perfect, but it was real. One day at a time, for more than 40 years." Mourners included Vogue's Global Editorial director Anna Wintour, actors Anne Hathaway and Elizabeth Hurley, American socialite Olivia Palermo and Valentino's current creative director Alessandro Michele and his predecessor Pierpaolo Piccioli. Valentino's Chief Executive Riccardo Bellini, French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, Antoine Arnault, the eldest son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, and Rachid Mohamed Rachid, CEO of Mayhoola, also attended. The couturier who built one of Italy's most celebrated fashion houses died on Monday at his home in Rome, aged 93. Hundreds gathered outside and inside the basilica, famed for the red of its marbled walls and columns – darker than Valentino red. White flowers framed the altar and a black-and-white photo of Valentino stood next to his coffin. There were flashes of red among the pews – hats, scarves, bright carmine coats and a woollen shawl. More than 10,000 people paid their respects to Valentino on Wednesday and Thursday as he lay in state in Rome's Piazza Mignanelli, next to his fashion house's historical headquarters and a stone's throw from the city's iconic Spanish Steps. There will be a private burial after the service. (Reporting by Matteo Negri and Giulia Segreti; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)