Julian Assange will ask to be released from prison for the funeral of his friend Vivienne Westwood

Founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange to ask to be released from prison to attend the funeral of his friend Dam Vivienne Westwoodaccording to the Australian’s wife.

Dame Vivienne, known as the godmother of punk, died aged 81 on Thursday surrounded by her family in the south of the country. Londonwhich prompted Mr Assange to seek a way to say goodbye despite being behind bars at London’s Belmarsh prison while he fights extradition to the US.

His wife Stella Assange told Australia’s Nine Media about the funeral: “Julian will be making a request to be able to attend.”

Mr. Assange and Dame Vivienne have been friends for more than a decade, and the designer actively supported them throughout their time in the Ecuadorian embassy and prison.

In July 2020, she even dressed up as a canary and hung in a giant birdcage outside the Old Bailey to protest his possible extradition.

The designer’s death prompted the Wikileaks founder to publish his first quote since his incarceration in 2019.

In comments posted by Mrs Assange, he said: “Vivien was a lady and a pillar of the anti-establishment. Brave, creative, thoughtful and a good friend. The best of Britain. She and many others will be greatly missed.”

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

Mrs Assange said after her death: “Vivien 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 focus and she just had an incredible talent for visuals and messaging.”

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

Also honored were Sir Paul McCartney and his fashion designer daughter Stella, both environmental and animal rights advocates.

Former Beatle Sir Paul wrote: “Goodbye Vivienne Westwood. A feisty woman who rocked the fashion world and defiantly stood up for what was right. I love Paul.”

Stella, who founded her eponymous luxury fashion house in 2001, added: “I can’t believe I’m writing this… Today we’ve lost one of Britain’s rarest fashion icons.

“Vivienne Westwood inspired my design career with courage and silliness. She invented punk.”

Born in Cheshire in 1941, Dame Vivienne is largely credited with bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.

Her designs are regularly worn by celebrities, including Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple Westwood wedding dress to her wedding Marilyn Mansonand Princess Eugenie, who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of then-Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding.

The details of her funeral are still unknown.