BREAKING NEWS British fashion icon Alexander McQueen commits suicide days after death of his beloved mother

Alexander McQueen

Top designer: McQueen with models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss Alexander McQueen with his mother Joyce

Grief: McQueen (R) at Isabella Blow's funeral service in 2007

Close: Alexander McQueen with Isabella Blow

McQueen with actress Sarah Jessica Parker in New York
British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was discovered dead today after taking his own life.
The industry was left reeling after the 40-year-old's suicide this morning, which comes just days after the death of his beloved mother, Joyce.
It is also just three years since his close friend, style guru Isabella Blow - who plucked him from obscurity and helped him become a star - killed herself.
McQueen, who was christened Lee but used his middle name as a designer, was found at his luxury flat in Mayfair, central London. It is believed he hanged himself.
One of his lines, McQ, was due to be shown at New York Fashion Week this afternoon but the show has now been cancelled
Police were called to the designer's £640,000 flat at 10.20am this morning after he was found dead. A private ambulance arrived to take away his body at 4.30pm.
Not long before it was taken away, a man with short blond hair who looked distraught and said he was McQueen's boyfriend, went inside.
Undertakers brought out the designer's body on a stretcher, covered in a maroon blanket.
The blond man came outside and waited, watching the door. He wiped tears from his eyes as he spoke on his mobile phone.
There were also tearful scenes at the designer's company headquarters in Farringdon, where staff were overcome with emotion.
A security guard said: This is a very difficult day.'
In a statement, the company said: 'On behalf of Lee McQueen's family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand, has been found dead at his home.
'At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family.
'Lee's family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this.

McQueen, CBE and four time winner of the British Designer of the Year award, was very close to his mother, a genealogist, and had taken her death last week very badly.
Posts on his Twitter page in recent days reveal that he had been battling to cope with his grief.
On February 3rd, he wrote: 'I'm letting my followers know my mother passed away yesterday if it she had not me nor would you RIP mumxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...'
Moments later, he added: 'But life must go on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
Then on Sunday, he said: 'Sunday evening been a ****ing awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together and finish with the HELLS ANGLES & PROLIFIC DEAMONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
He appeared to have recovered slightly by this week. His final message, posted on Tuesday, said: 'I'm here with my girl annie tinkerbell wishing kerry the **** happy birthday in NY, your 40 now girl time to slow it down we think.'
However, posts before his mother died also hint that he was having troubles. On February 1st, he wrote: 'From heaven to hell and back again, life is a funny thing. beauty can come from the most strangest of places even the most disgusting places.'
His mother had interviewed him for a newspaper in 2004 and asked him: 'What is your most terrifying fear?', to which he replied: 'Dying before you.' She said: 'Thank you, son.