Dame Elizabeth Taylor's funeral has taken place.

The 79-year-old screen legend - who died of congestive heart failure on Wednesday (23.03.11) was laid to rest in a private Jewish ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in California yesterday afternoon (24.03.11) shortly after 2pm local time.

Rabbi Jerry Cutler - who had met Elizabeth through John Voigt - conducted the service at the request of the actress' family.

The body of the actress was to be interred into the Great Mausoleum, which is also the final resting place of her close friend Michael Jackson, as well as fellow acting legends Clark Gable and Jean Harlow.

Though the service was for family and close friends only - including Elizabeth's four children and 10 grandchildren - fans gathered at the gates of the cemetery to pay their respects to the star.

A fleet of limousines were seen arriving at the cemetery around 10 minutes after the service had been due to commence.

Jewish customs require burial to take place as soon as possible after death, ideally within 24 hours.

Elizabeth - who married eight times to seven men - converted to Judaism in the 1950s.

It is believed a public memorial will take place in the coming weeks.