MICHAEL JACKSON’s grieving mother KATHERINE has been granted her request to have the late pop legend’s estate pay for the “extraordinary” costs of his upcoming burial.

The King of Pop, who passed away in June (09), will finally be laid to rest on Thursday (03Sep09) at California’s Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

The date was pushed back twice to allow the family more time to plan the proceedings.

Jackson named attorney John Branca and recording executive John McClain as executors of his estate in what is believed to be his final will, signed in 2002 - limiting Katherine Jackson’s say in how her son’s affairs are handled.

The family matriarch appealed to a Los Angeles judge on Wednesday (02Sep09) to sign off on the expenses of the superstar’s funeral services and burial, insisting the estate administrators “understand and appreciate” the scale of the ceremony.

The request was approved, but the costs of the services have not been disclosed.

Jackson’s public memorial service at Los Angeles’ Staples Center in July (09) sparked controversy when it was revealed that local taxpayer’s money had been used to help fund the $1.4 million (£934,000) event.

Much of the sum was reportedly spent on the heavy police presence and security required to handle the thousands of fans who flocked to the city to pay their last respects to the King of Pop.