Mourners including pop singers Ian “H” Watkins and Jade Thirlwall joined family to say goodbye to Drag Race UK star The Vivienne (James Lee Williams), who died early in January 2025 aged just 32. A horse-drawn carriage arrived outside the church for The Vivienne’s funeral, with a coffin inside toppe
Mourners including pop singers Ian “H” Watkins and Jade Thirlwall joined family to say goodbye to Drag Race UK star The Vivienne (James Lee Williams), who died early in January 2025 aged just 32.
A horse-drawn carriage arrived outside the church for The Vivienne’s funeral, with a coffin inside topped with a white floral arrangement. The crown and sceptre The Vivienne won from Drag Race UK were carried in ahead of the service.
Williams, known as The Vivienne, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and placed third in Dancing On Ice in 2023.
During their career, The Vivienne also competed on an all-winners season of the RuPaul franchise in the US in 2022, the only UK contestant for that series.
They also starred in BBC Three show The Vivienne Takes On Hollywood in 2020, and appeared on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted For Stand Up To Cancer in 2022.
Williams, who was born in Wales, adopted their drag name as they were known for wearing Vivienne Westwood clothing.
Their publicist, Simon Jones, announced the news of their passing on January 5, writing that Williams was an “incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person”.
