Only 82 people attended the private service abroad his yacht, Morning Glory, in New York harbour.

Two New York police officers were on duty preventing access to the yacht and some guests arriving for the service said they thought they were attending a party.

Morning Glory sailed from Chelsea Piers with a string ensemble playing Mozart ahead of the service, which was conducted by state Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Silbermann.

Welsh singing prodigy Charlotte Church performed three songs at the service.

'Amicable' divorce

Guests arrived in business attire, some wearing deck shoes, for the service.

Mr Murdoch, 68, dressed in a white shirt and light blue tie, was seen laughing and mingling with guests on the deck.

Before the service one guest told reporters on the pier: "I don't even know if he's getting married. We're coming to a party."

Mr Murdoch's divorce from his second wife, Anna, was finalised on 8 June, ending their 32-year marriage.

Details of the settlement have not been disclosed, but in a joint statement the couple described the agreement as amicable, and said management of Mr Murdoch's business empire would not be affected.

Worth $7.2bn

Mr Murdoch controls 30.1% of News Corporation which stretches across the world to include the 20th Century Fox movie studio, Fox TV, the Los Angeles Dodgers, major newspapers in the United States and Australia and satellite TV networks on several continents.

He also has extensive interests in Britain, including The Sun, The Times, the News of the World and The Sunday Times newspaper and BSkyB television. Forbes magazine estimate him to be worth to be worth $7.2bn.

Ms Deng, 32, stepped down from her post as vice-president of Mr Murdoch's Hong Kong-based Star Television service late last year.

Mr Murdoch has three children from his marriage to Anna, his second wife.