Julian Assange to ask for prison release for friend Vivienne Westwood’s funeral

Late British fashion pioneer was outspoken supporter of Wikileaks founder, who is fighting extradition to the US

Australian MPs Andrew Wilkie, centre, and George Christensen, fourth right, with John Shipton, third right, the father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, outside Belmarsh prison.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will request leave from prison to attend the funeral of his friend Dame Vivienne Westwood, according to the Australian’s wife.

Westwood, who died aged 81 on Thursday surrounded by her family in south London, was an outspoken supporter of Mr Assange.

Mr Assange says he wants to attend his friend's funeral, despite being behind bars in London’s Belmarsh prison as he fights extradition to the US.

His wife Stella Assange told Australia’s Nine Media of the funeral: “Julian’s going to put in a request to be able to attend.”

Mr Assange and Dame Vivienne had been friends for more than a decade, with the designer a vocal supporter throughout his time in the Ecuadorian embassy and prison.

She even dressed as a canary and suspended herself inside a giant birdcage outside The Old Bailey in July 2020 to protest his potential extradition.

The designer’s death prompted the Wikileaks founder to issue his first quote since being imprisoned in 2019.

Vivienne Westwood holds a ball with a word "justice" written on it outside the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court ahead of a hearing to decide whether Assange should be extradited to the United States. Reuters.

In a comment released by Mrs Assange, he said: “Vivienne was a Dame and a pillar of the anti-establishment. Bold, creative, thoughtful and a good friend. The best of Britain. She will be missed terribly by me and many others.”

Mrs Assange wore a dress designed by Dame Vivienne and her husband Andreas Kronthaler when she married the 51-year-old at the prison in a small ceremony in March.

Mrs Assange said following the death: “Vivienne was a rebel at heart. Julian and I loved her company. Her gift to us took our wedding to the next level so there was a lot of attention and she just had this incredible talent for visuals and for messaging.”

She added: “Our wonderful friend Vivienne Westwood has left us. A fierce campaigner and a true altruist, she fought to #FreeAssange and for humanity’s future. Vivienne, you remain an inspiration. Your greatness will live on.”

Tributes also came from Sir Paul McCartney and his fashion designer daughter Stella, both also environmental and animal rights activists.

Former Beatle Sir Paul wrote: “Goodbye Vivienne Westwood. A ballsy lady who rocked the fashion world and stood defiantly for what was right. Love Paul.”

Stella, who founded her own eponymous luxury fashion house in 2001, added: “I cannot believe I am writing this… Today, we lost one of the most rare British icons of fashion ever.

“Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with bravery and bollocks. She invented punk.”

Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely accepted as being responsible for bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.

Her designs were regularly worn by high-profile individuals including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding gown to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of the wedding of the then Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Details of her funeral are not yet known.

Julian Assange through the years - in pictures

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court after he was arrested in London in April 2019. Reuters

Mr Assange on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, in May 2017. Reuters

The WikiLeaks founder shakes hands with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino after a press conference, at which he confirmed he "will be leaving the embassy soon", in August 2014. Getty Images

Mr Assange prepares to speak from the balcony of Ecuador's embassy in August 2012. Reuters

He covers his eyes during a news conference in central London, in December 2011. AP Photo

Mr Assange arrives at the High Court in London in December 2011. Getty Images

Protesters cheer as Mr Assange, centre, speaks outside St Paul's Cathedral during the 'Occupy London' protest in October 2011. Getty Images

Wearing an ankle tag, Mr Assange at the house where he was required to stay in Suffolk, England, in June 2011. AP Photo

Mr Assange arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in a prison van with red windows in December 2010. Getty Images

He holds up a copy of 'The Guardian' newspaper in London in July 2010, after WikiLeaks published 90,000 secret US military records. Getty Images

The Australian is photographed for a portrait in May 2010 in Melbourne. Getty Images

A young Julian Assange leaves a Melbourne court after facing charges of computer hacking in May 1995. Getty Images