Stars and the public say a final goodbye to fashion icon Valentino at a Rome funeral

ROME (AP) — Global fashion celebrities joined the public on Friday morning to say goodbye to iconic designer Valentino at his funeral service in Rome, at the central Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.

After a two-day public viewing on Wednesday and Thursday at the Valentino foundation’s headquarters in the Italian capital, the funeral marked the final tribute to the internationally acclaimed designer.

Top fashion names, including designers Tom Ford and Donatella Versace, along with longtime Vogue magazine powerhouse Anna Wintour, attended the funeral service, as did Hollywood stars like Anne Hathaway.

Fans and admirers gathered outside the church, some dressed in red or carrying red accessories in a last homage to the designer’s signature shade of color.

Valentino Garavani, who died aged 93 at his Rome residence on Monday, was adored by generations of royals, first ladies and celebrities such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Jordan's Queen Rania and Julia Roberts who swore the designer always made them look and feel their best.

Hundreds of people had already paid their respects to the “last emperor” of Italian fashion during the public viewing. Valentino always maintained his atelier in Rome, while he mostly unveiled his collections in Paris.

His sumptuous gowns have graced countless Academy Awards, notably in 2001 when Roberts wore a vintage black and white column to accept her best actress statue. Cate Blanchett also wore a one-shouldered Valentino in butter-yellow silk when she won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2005.

“I want to thank Valentino for teaching me beauty,” said longtime personal and professional partner Giancarlo Giammetti in his remembrance speech, his voice breaking with emotion.

“It was a beauty that followed us throughout our lives. We met when we were kids, we dreamed of the same things, and we achieved many of them. Our journey will always continue," he added.

Anne Hathaway leaves after attending the funeral of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the St. Mary of Angels Basilica, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Donatella Versace arrives to attend the funeral of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the St. Mary of Angels Basilica, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The casket of fashion designer Valentino Garavani leaves the St. Mary of Angels Basilica at the end of his funeral, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Tom Ford arrives to attend the funeral of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the St. Mary of Angels Basilica, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Anna Wintour arrives to attend the funeral of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the St. Mary of Angels Basilica, in Rome, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Donatella Versace, and former creative director of Valentino Pierpaolo Piccioli, right, arrive at the lying in state of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation headquarters in central Rome, Thursday, Jan. 22 2026. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP)

Donatella Versace, and former creative director of Valentino Pierpaolo Piccioli, right, pay their respects at the lying in state of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation headquarters in central Rome, Thursday, Jan. 22 2026. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP)

Riccardo Belliini, center, arrives at the lying in state of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation headquarters in central Rome, Thursday, Jan. 22 2026. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP)

Donatella Versace, right, and Pierpaolo Piccioli arrive at the lying in state of fashion designer Valentino Garavani at the Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation headquarters in central Rome, Thursday, Jan. 22 2026. (Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via AP)

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Fox of New Zealand withdrew from The Players Championship on Thursday, spending the day in a hospital to have kidney stones removed.

Fox cited “illness” as the reason for his withdrawal. He later posted to Instagram that this was hardly a case of the flu or a stomach virus.

“Not exactly the week I had planned,” he wrote. “Unfortunately some kidney stones took me down on Tuesday night and then had to be dealt with surgically this afternoon. Devastated to miss out on such an amazing event, hoping to have a quick recovery and be back at it soon.”

Fox was replaced in the 123-man field by David Ford, who was among the 15 players competing for the first time at the TPC Sawgrass.

Fox won the Myrtle Beach Classic and the RBC Canadian Open last year and is No. 44 in the world ranking.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Ryan Fox, of New Zealand, hits out of a bunker on the first hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill golf tournament Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)