Prince, 57, dies at Minnesota estate just days after he was rushed to hospital from private plane with 'severe flu'

Paramedics were called out to the music icon's Paisley Park estate at 9.43am and Carver County Sheriff's Department confirmed that there had been a fatality.

A forensics team and a medical examiner are at the scene.

Prince - full name Prince Rogers Nelson - was rushed to hospital six days ago with flu symptoms after his private plane made an emergency landing.

He made a final public appearance at a show on Sunday, where he did not sing, but said: 'Wait a few days before you waste any prayers'  He was aboard his private flight when he fell ill, forcing it to make an unscheduled landing in Illinois on Friday morning.

TMZ reported that the seven-time Grammy award winning singer's plane diverted to Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois, to make the emergency landing.

He had had been suffering from flu for a number of weeks and was believed to be recovering, but took a turn for the worse in the early hours of Friday. Prince, who was a Jehovah's Witness, was treated for three hours before being released.