Prince died of an accidental painkiller overdose.
Minnesota’s medical examiner has confirmed the music legend passed away after taking a fatal hit of fentanyl, a powerful opioid used to treat pain.
The examiner’s findings come more than a month after The Purple One was found unresponsive inside an elevator at his Paisley Park mansion, with the local sheriff’s department reportedly still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to the autopsy report, Prince self-administered the fentanyl, a prescription painkiller considered many times more powerful than heroin or morphine.
These official findings will provide little solace for Prince’s fans. If anything, they make the pop legend’s death even more tragic because it was preventable.
After news of Prince’s passing first broke on April 21st, many reports surfaced speculating that the music icon has been struggling with a secret opioid addiction.
A man claiming to be his drug dealer alleged that The Purple One had been addicted to painkillers for 25 years, after TMZ first reported that he’d been treated for a painkiller overdose in the week prior to his death, and rescued from the brink of flatlining with a “save shot” that was administered after his tour plane made an emergency landing.
It was later reported that Prince died one day before a scheduled meeting with addiction specialists.
The incredible thing is that the 57-year-old managed to conceal his pain from the world for so long, with even some of those closest to him swearing that he was the picture of health – a strict vegan who never abused drugs or alcohol.
Fans no doubt felt the same way, with The Purple One becoming famous for his marathon performances. He often played for hours, sometimes putting on two shows in a night and other times boogying into the wee hours with fans at his notorious after-parties.
Prince was cremated at a private ceremony on April 24th, and his family are understood to be planning to hold a public memorial for August.
Because he didn’t leave a will, the singer’s multi-million-dollar estate, which includes music royalties – not to mention the fate of thousands of unheard original recordings stashed inside his vault – are currently in the hands of a court.
But his family have expressed a desire to turn his Paisley Park mansion into a Graceland-style museum to honour his legacy.
You can read every interview that Prince ever gave in one place here.
Or else stay up to date with all of the latest tributes, memories and Prince-related news via our official Prince Feed.
Gallery: Prince’s Life In Pictures
Iconic Prince Photos
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Prince At The Bottom Line
Now this is really early days with Prince performing in NYC at the Bottom Line on February 15, 1980. (Photo by Waring Abbott/Getty Images) -
Prince At The Palladium NYC 1981
Performing off the back of his third album Controversy, even in the early days he was a force to be reckoned with onstage (Photo by Waring Abbott/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo Of Prince - Purple Rain Tour
Prince performing on stage - Purple Rain Tour (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns) -
Premiere of 'Purple Rain'
Prince attending the premiere of his feature film 'Purple Rain' on July 26, 1984 at Mann Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) -
Prince performing at The Ritz
More of him performing on the Purple Rain Tour (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns) -
Prince Live At The Forum
Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum on February 19, 1985 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Prince Live In LA
More from his iconic show at the Fabulous Forum on February 19, 1985 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
BRIT Awards 1985
Prince collects the award for Best International Artist at the British Record Industry Awards, aka the BRIT Awards with classic style in London, 11th February 1985. (Photo by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images) -
Prince Plays Guitar In Concert
Prince shredding onstage in 1985 a year after the release of Purple Rain (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Prince In UK
Prince performing in the UK, circa 1985. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Prince In Polka Dot
Always a snappy dresser, Prince rocks some polka dots on stage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1988. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Purple One At Wembley
The purple one performing at the iconic Wembley stadium in London, 1986 in the post Purple Rain era. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Prince On Stage
Prince shows some skin while performing on stage, 1986. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
Prince Performs In Concert
Barechested with a guitar strapped at his waist and performing in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 30, 1990. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Prince Flying High In Concert
Ever the showman, Prince delights fans circa 1990. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
Prince At Wembley
The purple one returns to Wembley, London, 22nd August 1990. (Photo by Graham Wiltshire/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
Prince Listens To Crowd In Concert
Prince holds one hand by his ear to hear the crowd response, during a concert, February 1991. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) -
1991 MTV Video Music Awards
Prince performs at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards Held in Los Angeles, CA on September 5, 1991. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images -
Prince In Concert
Prince in concert and in costume at Earl's Court, London, 15th June 1992. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images) -
Prince Performing At Radio City Music Hall
Prince performs onstage at Radio City Music Hall on March 24, 1993 in New York, New York. (Photo of Prince Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Super Bowl XLI Half-Time Press Conference Featuring Prince
Prince performs during the Super Bowl XLI Half-Time Press Conference at the Miami Convention Center on February 1, 2007 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) -
Prince At The SCG Show In Sydney
Prince delighting Aussie fans on his early 90s Australian tour. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images). -
Prince Headlining UK Festival 2011
Even in his later days Prince never lost his presence and energy on stage. (Photo by Neil Lupin/Redferns)
