The Osbourne family had been planning for Sharon and Ozzy’s return to the UK and had “hope that he would be around for a lot longer,” prior to the 76-year-old’s unexpected death on Tuesday.
In a statement released last night, the family stated: “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.”
They continued: “He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Osbourne, who had been living with Parkinson’s, had only just completed his highly-anticipated farewell gig earlier this month, and him and music manager wife Sharon had been preparing to spend the rest of their lives back in Buckinghamshire after living in the US since the 1990s.
Speaking on Tuesday, a friend of the family confirmed how Sharon, 72, had been making preparations to accommodate her husband as they moved back to the English county.
“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,” they explained.
The source continued: “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.”
Speaking to MailOnline, they concluded: “But it’s so lovely that he had his children around him during his last days.”
The couple had been in the UK for Black Sabbath’s farewell concert and were in Britain when Osbourne suddenly passed away.
Former X Factor judge Sharon had been caring for The Prince of Darkness, with the publication revealing their daughters Aimee, 41 and Kelly, 40, were flying back from Los Angeles after being home as recently as last week.
Their son Jack, 39, had also travelled to the UK from Idaho to watch his father performing his last gig at his beloved Aston Villa stadium on July 5.
The news has rocked the entertainment world, with fellow singing legends and floods of fans paying tribute.
Sir Elton John and Rod Stewart are among those to have shared heartfelt messages to the singer, who found fame in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
Stewart, 80, penned on Instagram: “Bye, Bye Ozzy. Sleep well, my friend. I’ll see you up there – later rather than sooner.”
Meanwhile John, 78, shared alongside a snap of himself and Ozzy: “So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away.
“He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend.
“He was also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love. Elton xx.” (sic)
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Rolling Stone legend Ronnie wood wrote: “I am so very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne.
“What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back To The Beginning in Birmingham,”