Prince's autopsy reveals star's tragic last days and hidden addiction

In April 2016, the music world was shaken by the death of Prince Rogers Nelson at the age of 57 from an "accidental fentanyl overdose" at his Paisley Park estate. The legendary artist was privately enduring a battle with painkiller addiction, which only became apparent after his passing.

Prince, to his fans and even those in his inner circle, appeared as vibrant and in control as ever, yet behind the scenes, he was dealing with a much darker reality.

The BBC is now set to honour his musical legacy, with a special tribute on Saturday, 6 July. The line-up includes programmes such as Prince and His Songs at the BBC, Prince: A Purple Reign, and Prince and the Revolution Live from a 1985 concert.

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Details about when Prince began using opioids are unclear, and it's unknown whether those close to him were aware of his drug use, which is said to have included cocaine and Percocet starting in the early 2000s. Some suggest that his drug use was related to a serious hip problem he developed later in life.

Concerns about Prince's health peaked when his private jet made an emergency landing in Illinois on 15 April, following a performance in Atlanta. He had suffered a suspected Percocet overdose and was quickly taken for treatment with anti-overdose medication.

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Unfortunately, the incident on the plane wasn't the last time Prince overdosed; he was discovered lifeless in an elevator at his luxurious residence in April 2016, as reported by the Daily Star.

Following his unexpected and untimely passing, it was confirmed that the cause of death was an overdose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid said to be 50 times more potent than heroin.

A private toxicology report discloses the level of fentanyl in the singer's system at the time he died. The report indicates that Prince's blood contained a fentanyl concentration of 67.8 micrograms per litre, while recorded cases have shown blood levels between three to 58 micrograms per litre.

The alarming figures also underscore the high quantities of the drug found in the Purple Rain singer's liver.

According to the information, 450 micrograms per kilogram were detected in his crucial organ, with liver concentrations over 69 micrograms per kilogram suggesting overdose or fatal toxicity incidents.

While there is no established lethal dose of fentanyl, it was reported that Prince was consuming various other kinds of painkillers and prescription medications.

A year after his shocking demise, authorities found numerous pills in different containers around the star's residence.

The post-mortem examination was conducted the day after Prince's body was discovered, and the results left his fans across the globe in shock.