Check out these shots from earlier this morning of the private ceremony held for Michael Jackson, and attended by his close friends and family.

Forest Lawn will see a lot of activity today! That parking lot is packed. Are you going to stop by to pay your respects?

photo of Michael's coffin being transported to the Forest Lawn Cemetery yesterday afternoon

Michael Jackson's casket has just arrived at the Staples Center, and the memorial is expected to begin any minute now...

Michael Jackson's family has arrived at Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles for the public memorial service.

A police escort accompanied the procession of black Rolls Royces and Range Rovers from Forest Lawn in Burbank to Staples Center.

A hearse carrying Michael's body lead the procession, along with dozens of LAPD officers.

The public memorial service is expected to begin shortly.

Stay tuned to X17online for all the latest details!

The Jackson family has left the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Burbank and they are currently on their way to the Staples Center for Michael's public memorial service.

The family arrived at the funeral home shortly after 8am in a motorcade of 10 black SUVs, and it appears as though they family IS in fact bringing Michael's body to the Staples Center.

Stay tuned to X17online for all the latest details!

The Jackson family left their Encino estate this morning in a motorcade of black SUVs and arrived at the Forest Lawn Cemetery around 8:10am for a private memorial service. The King of Pop's body will be taken to the Staples Center, and the family is expected to leave any minute now...

image courtesy of Samantha at DiamondDusted.com

An X17 source has snagged a pair of the highly coveted Michael Jackson funeral tickets, and she reveals that the scene is surprisingly orderly at the Staples Center, but as expected, there are thousands upon thousands of fans eagerly anticipating the day's events. Vendors are camped out on the streets selling all sorts of Jackson memorabilia, and there are countless police officers and cop cars lining the surrounding streets.

After passing through two security checkpoints to even get near the venue (the first of which checks for wristbands...if you don't have one, you're kicked out!), fans must wait in a massive line to get inside the Staples Center. At the door, ticket holders are given gold booklets/programs commemorating the late pop icon, and they are then let inside to claim their seats...

Once inside, fans can hear Michael's music playing, and the stage is covered in blue felt with flowers in the front. The seating is set up like a concert, and our source also tells us, "Security was really lax...fans probably could have snuck in a camera if they wanted to!"

MORE DETAILS COMING UP...STAY TUNED TO X17ONLINE FOR THE LATEST!

Yesterday Paris Jackson was snapped at her grandparents Encino estate, and Michael Jackson's middle child was comforted by friends and family as she played with their dogs in the backyard.

We can't even begin to imagine how hard this is on her...

The Jackson family arrived at the Forest Lawn Cemetery shortly after 8am this morning in a long motorcade of black SUVs, and they are expected to leave for the Staples Center in the next 45 minutes.