Ozzy Osbourne was able to fulfil his and Sharon's poignant final wish

Ozzy Osbourne's death was "unexpected to be this soon" - but he was still able to fulfil his and wife Sharon's final wish, a friend said.

Despite his declining health, the Black Sabbath frontman managed to complete his and Sharon's move from the US to rural Buckinghamshire, a hope the couple had long harboured. Ozzy and Sharon, who married in 1982, lived in their mansion in the Home County for Ozzy's last two years, it emerged last night.

The music legend died there, aged 76, on Tuesday after a journey withParkinson's disease with which he was diagnosed in 2019. Ozzy helped millions of people by raising money and awareness for Parkinson's before his death.

"Ozzy was always meant to come back to Britain to live in Buckinghamshire, it was where Sharon had spent so long preparing their family home for him," a friend of the family said last night.

"There was much hope that he would be around for a lot longer than this but at one point there were fears they would not get him back from Los Angeles for the concert earlier this month.

"Kelly has been at the house a lot in the last week or so, so has Aimee. It is terribly sad for all of them, they really hoped he would be able to carry on for a bit longer. But it's so lovely that he had his children around him during his last days."

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The rock legend died, surrounded by his wife Sharon and their children, after his health declined the Buckinghamshire home on Tuesday. The family's statement read: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."

Ozzy's last gig with Black Sabbath was in his homecity - Birmingham - where he performed to tens of thousands at Villa Park just this month. He had been back living in the UK for around two years, recuperating at the Buckinghamshire home with his wife.

But, despite Ozzy's ill-health, sources close to the family say his passing was "unexpected to be this soon". They claim daughters Aimee, 41, and Kelly, 40, had flown in from Los Angeles to spend time with their dad in recent months. Son Jack, 39, also had flown from his home in Idaho to watch his perform in Birmingham two weeks ago.

Celebs from across the world paid tribute to the heavy metal hellraiser on Tuesday. Elton John said Ozzy "secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods". Elton added: "He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend."