Harrison died on Thursday at a friend's Los Angeles home, at 1330 local time, according to his longtime friend Gavin De Becker.

De Becker said Harrison's wife Olivia and son Dhani, 24, were both with him when he died.

Harrison's family issued a statement saying: "He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends.

"He often said, 'Everything else can wait but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another'."

In New York, fans began gathering before dawn at Strawberry Fields, an area of Central Park named after the Beatles song in the wake of John Lennon's murder in 1980.

The city council has announced that there will be a memorial service for the former Beatle, but no date has been set.

A council spokesman said that the family's wishes would be taken into account before deciding the form of any memorial.

The Coldstream Guards band played a tribute Beatles medley during the Changing The Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Speaking outside his home in St John's Wood, north west London, Sir Paul McCartney said: "I am devastated and very very sad.

"We knew he'd been ill for a long time. He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humour.

"He is really just my baby brother."

"I loved him very much and I will miss him greatly.

Ringo Starr, speaking from Vancouver, Canada said: "We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter."

'Wisdom'

"The three of them were the closest, most loving family you can imagine.

"George has given so much to us in his lifetime and continues to do so even after his passing, with his music, his wit and his wisdom.

"Thank you George, it was grand knowing you."

Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth was "very sad to hear of the death of George Harrison".

Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "People of my generation grew up with the Beatles, and they were the background to our lives.

'Courage'

Beatles producer Sir George Martin described Harrison as "caring deeply for those he loved".

"Olivia and Dhani have borne his illness with enormous courage and devotion," he said.

"Now I believe, as he did, that he has entered a higher state. God give him peace."

Harrison, who was 58, announced in July he had received treatment in Switzerland for a tumour. He also had surgery for lung cancer in May.

The former Beatle, who met his fellow band members John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr where they grew up in Liverpool, was just 27 when the band split in 1970.

They managed to conquer the world musically, achieving 27 number one records in the UK and the US during their career.

Their most recent album, compiling all their number one hits, called 1, topped both the UK and the US charts during 2000.

Films

His role as a film producer took off when he worked on Monty Python's Life of Brian in 1979.

He was also responsible for The Long Good Friday, Time Bandits and Mona Lisa.

In the 1980s Harrison teamed up with Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison as The Travelling Wilburys.