Ozzy Osbourne’s emotional final wish fulfilled shortly before he died aged 76

The world is still in shock following the news of Ozzy Osbourne's death yesterday (22 July).

It was announced that the Black Sabbath star, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, passed away 'surrounded by love' at the age of 76.

"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," a statement from his family shared Tuesday evening.

"He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time."

The message was signed off by his wife of 43 years, Sharon Osbourne, along with four of his children, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis.

Sharon Osbourne helped fulfill her husband Ozzy Osbourne's final wish before he passed yesterday (22 July) (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)

And, it would appear as if the 'Iron Man' singer's final wish was fulfilled given the fact the message was preceded by a location stamp, that read: "Birmingham, England July 22, 2025," - a detail which reveals that Osbourne made it back home for one last time.

Prior to the rocker's deteriorating health, the famous couple weren't shy in sharing their desires to move back to the UK from Los Angeles, with Birmingham-born Osbourne previously confessing he was 'desperate to come home'.

Over the years, Osbourne had been very up front about his dreams of returning to Old Blighty.

The couple have enjoyed over four decades of marriage together (Vinnie Zuffante / Stringer / Getty Images)

In August 2022, after spending over two decades across the pond in the US, Osbourne cited gun violence in the country as another reason for his desire to leave.

"Everything’s f*cking ridiculous [in America]. I’m fed up with people getting killed every day," he told The Observer.

"God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. And there was that mass shooting in Vegas at that concert. … it’s f*cking crazy."

His ongoing health issues, teamed with his various surgeries for a spinal injury which took place back in 2003 following an ATV crash, meant that the relocation was delayed.

"It’s time for me to spend some time with my grandkids," he told the Guardian in May as he prepared for his final show. "I don’t want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family."

The heavy metal legend reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates at his farewell gig earlier this month (Scott Dudelson / Contributor / Getty Images)

He and Sharon were expected to settle back in their Buckinghamshire home to coincide with the farewell gig which took place earlier this month (5 July) at Villa Park in Birmingham.

However, the move was delayed for years due to Ozzy's ailing health.

Sharon confirmed to Planet Rock’s Loz Guest that her husband's Back to the Beginning concert a few weeks back had given Ozzy the chance to come home at last.

"He’s coming over in March. His brothers (in Black Sabbath), he’s excited to be here with them," she shared and, when asked if they were still permanently moving back to the UK after the gig, Sharon replied: "Yeah, we are."

Ozzy has six children in total.

As well as Jack, Kelly and Aimee, he shares three children with his first wife, Thelma Riley, who he married in 1971 before divorcing in 1982 - Jessica Osbourne (born 1972), Louis Osbourne (born 1975) and his step-son Elliot Kingsley (born 1966), who Osbourne adopted during his marriage to Thelma.