Bonnie Tyler funeral recap: Crowd sings and cheers as emotional service ends

This live blog has now ended

Many packed the streets to say farewell. Some mourners watched on a live transmission of the celebration of life for the Welsh singer on a big screen.

[0_Celebration-of-the-life-of-Bonnie-Tyler-at-Swansea-Minster-United-Kingdom-17-Aug-2026.jpg]

(Image: DIMITRIS LEGAKIS/EPA/Shutterstock)

Bonnie Tyler's coffin was carried out of the church to the tune Those Were The Days.

It was a song that she had performed in a talent completion in Skewen. She won 1 after finishing runner-up. The anectdote was told during the service.

As the service comes to an end and the coffin is being taken from the church, those watching the service outside are all singing Calon Lan.

Welsh choir Only Men Aloud are performing Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of The Heart in a sombre moment.

Manager Matt said: "Music was her living, but her life was her family."

He said Bonnie was "the best aunty Gaynor they could ever have wished for."

"Gaynor had a big family - as you can see today - but she never forgot a birthday, anniversary or special occasion wherever she was in the world. "She was a beautiful person inside and out with her big blue eyes smiling at you.

"She was full of life, with a big smile and a great sense of humour and naturally funny."

He said of Bonnie's relationshop with her husband: "It was a true lifetime of love, respect and partnership."

Members of the public stood outside Swansea Minster and read the order of service as the listened on to the service from the street.

[0_Bonnie-Tyler-funeral.jpg]

(Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Manager Matt says he was asked to keep the eulogy short "but how can I possible celebrate a life as big and well lived as Bonnie's in 10 minutes".

He says Bonnie became the "biggest part of my life for 39 years".

Praising the star, he said: "She could utterly command any stage, any venue, and any audience. Over the years, Bonnie played shows in all four hemispheres and all six inhabited continents."

Family of Bonnie and her husband of 53 years, Robert Sullivan, were heartbroken as they got ready to say their final goodbyes.

[0_Funeral-Of-Bonnie-Tyler-Is-Held-At-Swansea-Minster.jpg]

(Image: Getty Images)

After Reverend Canon Justin Davies finished the first part of the eulogy there was a touching rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water by Only Men Aloud.

The coffin was designed by her family. The white coffin showed a microphone and treble clef engraved to show the singer's passion of music.

There was also an an engraving of a pair of wings at thefoot of the coffin. This was a design that had been embroidered on one of Tyler's stage jackets.

[0_Funeral-Of-Bonnie-Tyler-Is-Held-At-Swansea-Minster.jpg]

(Image: Getty Images)

Sweet words from the family are read out by Reverend Canon Justin Davies as they called her young voice "heavenly to listen to".

The music changes to It's A Heartache as the coffin is placed.

Bonnie's white coffin with white roses is carried into the church as her song If I Sing You A Love Song plays.

Her family followed behind ahead of the service.

[0_Funeral-Of-Bonnie-Tyler-Is-Held-At-Swansea-Minster.jpg]

(Image: Getty Images)

Welsh musician Mal Pope, a longtime friend of Bonnie Tyler, said it had been an emotional weekend leading up to the funeral on Monday.He said: She felt like a really local person and I think sometimes we forgot she was an international superstar.We recorded together, we performed on stage together, shed come on my TV and radio shows, she would always turn up to support me and never ever ask for anything in return.

A hearse carrying Bonnie Tylers coffin has arrived at Swansea Minster to applause from the crowd.

There is a sweet floral arrangement accompanying it that spells out the singer's first name.

[0_Funeral-Of-Bonnie-Tyler-Is-Held-At-Swansea-Minster.jpg]

(Image: Getty Images)

Guests dressed in black wait outside St. Mary's Church in Swansea, Wales, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026 before the service and funeral of Bonnie Tyler.

[0_Britain-Bonnie-Tyler-Funeral-26229375516804.jpg]

(Image: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Welsh broadcaster Roy Noble, who befriended Bonnie Tyler after interviewing her, is among guests attending a celebration of her life at Swansea Minster. He said: Its a great privilege (to be here) really because Ive known Bonnie over the years. Its very sad indeed, and we feel for Robert, her husband.(She was) very down to earth and very much a family girl. She had a few more years left in her. She was 75 when she passed away, so its an awful, awful shame."

Floral tributes have been laid outside Swansea Minster ahead of Bonnie Tyler's funeral.

[0_Funeral-Of-Bonnie-Tyler-Is-Held-At-Swansea-Minster.jpg]

(Image: Getty Images)

Mourners habe gathered to attend the funeral of Bonnie Tyler at Swansea Minster in Swansea, Wales.

The singer is an icon to so many people and they've came to pay their respects one last time.

One fan who was at the procession of the coffin on Saturday said at the ti me: "Her music touched a lot of people, especially me."

Carys Edwards, 18, said the singer was an inspiration to everybody. She said:

Im quite surprised how many people came here today, but then not as well, because she was such an icon. She was always coming home and making sure that she came back to her fans in Wales.

Her songs really did touch a lot of people here in Wales, we loved her a lot. When we found out she passed away, it was such a heartbreak to all of us. We cried and everything.

[SWANSEA, WALES - AUGUST 17: Mourners attend the funeral of Bonnie Tyler at Swansea Minster on August 17, 2026 in Swansea, Wales. The singer famous for hit "Total Eclipse" who was born Gaynor Hopkins, died in hospital on July 8th 2026, aged 75 in Portugal. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)]

(Image: Getty Images)

When Bonnie Tyler died aged 75 in July, the world of showbiz was in mourning. Best known for her hit tune, Total Eclipse of The Heart, Bonnie was a household name and touched the hearts of many.

Among those paying tribute at the time was Chicago actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. Other huge names remembering the star included singers Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams.

Now, family, friends and fans alike are gathering to pay their respects to the star one final time.