Fashion designer Alexander McQueen hanged himself after taking a mix of cocaine, tranquillisers and sleeping pills, an inquest has concluded.

He was under huge pressure from work and “overwhelmed with grief” at the loss of his mother, the court heard.

The 40-year-old’s body was found at his London flat on 11 February – the eve of his mother Joyce’s funeral.

“The balance of his mind was disturbed,” said coroner Dr Paul Knapman, recording a suicide verdict.

Following the verdict his family said they were still coming to terms with their loss and missed him “terribly”.

‘Huge low’

Westminster Coroner’s Court heard that McQueen had a history of depression, anxiety and insomnia, had attempted suicide before and researched killing himself on the internet prior to his death.

McQueen’s psychiatrist, Dr Stephen Pereira, told the inquest that the leading designer was diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depressive disorder.

He said the designer – who was also known as Lee – repeatedly missed appointments to discuss his condition.

“He certainly felt very pressured by his work, but it was a double-edged sword,” he said.

“He felt it was the only area of his life where he felt he had achieved something.

“Usually after a show he felt a huge come-down. He felt isolated, it gave him a huge low.”

Added to this was the distress he felt after losing his mother, said coroner’s officer Lynda Martindill.

“He had been particularly close to his mother and following her death had become overwhelmed with grief.”

Dr Pereira said McQueen “felt that was the one link that had gone from his life and there was very little to live for”.

Suicide note

The designer had “killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed”, Dr Knapman said.

He added: “It seems that he had a history of self-harm and, no doubt fuelled by cocaine, he resorted to desperate measures to end his life.

“It’s such a pity for a man who, from a modest start, climbed to the top of his profession only to die in such tragedy.”

Dr Pereira said McQueen had attempted two drug overdoses in May and July last year which he described as “cries for help”.

A toxicology report found that McQueen had taken a “substantial” amount of cocaine and sleeping pills and also a smaller amount of tranquillisers prior to his death.

He was discovered by his housekeeper, who arrived in the morning to find the doors of the flat locked and the security chain fastened.

A post-mortem examination found the two causes of death were asphyxia and hanging. The inquest earlier heard that he had left a note.

The inquest was told details of the designer’s life, such as his love for deep-sea diving and for his three pet dogs.

It also heard the police had found a note, scribbled onto the back of a book in McQueen’s room.

It said: “Look after my dogs, sorry, I love you, Lee.”

A family statement said the inquest had “obviously been very difficult for the family as we are still coming to terms with the loss of Lee in such tragic circumstances.

“Lee was a public figure and a creative genius, who possessed a generous, loving, caring nature.

“Those who were privileged to have known Lee will cherish their memories of him for all their lives.

“Lee was also a much-loved brother and son and we miss him terribly. We will continue to make every effort to keep his memory alive.”

Before McQueen died he had been making final preparations for his spring collection to be unveiled in Paris.

He was named British designer of the year four times after 1996.

His close friend, fashion stylist Isabella Blow who helped launch his career, killed herself in 2007.

Malcolm McLaren, the former manager of the Sex Pistols, has been given a flamboyant send-off at his funeral in north London.

His coffin, emblazoned with the slogan “too fast to live, too young to die”, was carried on a horse-drawn carriage.

Mourners included his former partner, fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, and Sir Bob Geldof.

McLaren, who died earlier this month aged 64, will later be buried at Highgate Cemetery in a private service.

‘Minute of mayhem’

He had been suffering from a rare form of cancer and died in Switzerland.

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His coffin was transported in a cortege taking in Camden High Street and Chalk Farm Road, where fans and well-wishers gathered.

Beverley Gardener, 47, from Camden, went to Sex Pistols concerts in the late 1970s and said: “I just thought I’d come down to see him off.

“It’s sad, but he was a beautiful man – the king of punk. That is all I can say about him.

“It was nice to just be around at that time, be part of it all. I grew up with it, I didn’t know anything else,” she added.

At midday, well-wishers were encouraged to participate in a “minute of mayhem” rather than the conventional minute’s silence to mark McLaren’s life.

Dame Vivienne’s son Ben, who spent much of his childhood with the architect of punk music, told Radio 5 live this could involve playing some music or “tying up your boss”.

The slogan which was spray-painted on McLaren’s coffin was the name of his shop on London’s King’s Road, until it became known as Sex.

A green double-decker bus with a destination of “Nowhere” was also parked outside the deconsecrated north London church, which was the starting point for the funeral procession.

‘Cruel, cruel day’

Members of the funeral party travelled on the bus through Camden, which played Sid Vicious’s version of My Way at high volume.

The back of the bus was draped with a banner which read “Malcolm was here 1946-2010″.

Other attendees at the funeral included artist Tracey Emin, musician Adam Ant and Joseph Corre, his son by Dame Vivienne.

The 200-strong gathering sang along to McLaren’s version of the Max Bygraves song You Need Hands, and were encouraged to dance.

Dame Vivienne said: “I am very, very sad that unbelievably Malcolm is dead and I just wanted to say on this cruel, cruel day… get a life, do something with it.”

Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, whose tribute was read out by Joseph Corre, joked about a fall-out over royalties.

“Dear Malcolm, did you take the money with you? Is it in the coffin? Do you mind if I come back tomorrow and dig you up?

“I always had a soft spot for you. You showed me a lot when I was 17… and I owe you a lot for showing me a different side to life.”

After the service, the Buzzcocks’ Steve Diggle told the BBC it was “a very moving thing, very powerful”.