The funeral of Britain's most influential and controversial postwar Prime Minister, the late Margaret Thatcher, will take place on Wednesday at St Paul's Cathedral in a ceremonial service with full military honours.
More than 2,300 guests from across the world attended and paid their respects to the country's first and only female leader, who died from a stroke on 8 April aged 87. The capital came to a standstill as military personnel and members of the public line the streets to watch as Lady Thatcher's coffin – draped in a union flag – travels along the procession route to the cathedral.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attended the service along with the prime minister, David Cameron, and former leaders Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
It was the first time the monarch attended a funeral of a British Prime Minister since that of Winston Churchill in 1965.
Thatcher's funeral has been marred with controversy following the decision to grant the former Prime Minister a ceremonial service – one step down from a state funeral – at an estimated cost of £10m to the taxpayer. MPs and other public figures have criticized the move, claiming that Thatcher divided the nation and should not be awarded such a prestigious ceremony.
More than 4,000 officers was on duty during the ceremony amid fears it could be disrupted by protesters after several celebration parties were held across the country to mark her death.
On Tuesday, Thatcher's coffin was moved to the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster where a private service was attended by close friends and family, including her children, Carol and Mark, and former members of her government.
At 10am, the coffin traveled by hearse from Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes, the RAF Chapel, on the Strand.
With flags across the capital flying at half mast, it was then transferred to a gun carriage drawn by six horses from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery as it starts on its procession.
About 700 military personnel from all three services lined the route while processional minute guns were fired from the Tower Wharf at the Tower for the duration of its journey.
The service at St Paul's Cathedral was a humble affair and has been six years in the planning, with Thatcher playing a significant role in its delivery. Speaking on Tuesday, Very Rev Dr David Ison, who gave the bidding at the ceremony, said:
"Mrs Thatcher wanted something that was very simple and it is not at all triumphalist.
"At its heart it's a funeral like any other funeral, bearing in mind people have to remember that it's not a celebration of somebody's life, it's not a memorial service.
"It's an occasion to do the last thing that we can for a human being, which is to commend somebody to God."
More than 2,300 guests were in attendance, including 32 current cabinet-level ministers and about 30 from Thatcher's government between 1979 and 1990.
There were also more than 50 guests associated with the Falkland Islands, including veterans, to mark the significant chapter the war played during Thatcher's leadership.
Argentina's ambassador to London, Alicia Castro, declined the invitation to attend the funeral, in what was being seen as a mark of continuing sensitivity over the islands.
The U.S government's official presidential delegation was led by George Shultz and James Baker, who both served as secretaries of state during the Thatcher era.
Altogether, around 170 countries was represented by dignitaries such as members of royal families, politicians, and senior diplomats.
At Thatcher's request prior to her death, Britain's serving prime minister delivered a reading at her funeral. Cameron recited a lesson from the King James Bible.
The service was a traditional affair and includes a selection of well-known hymns, including Charles Wesley's Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, as well as poems by Wordsworth and TS Eliot.
After the service, the coffin traveled by hearse to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and a private cremation at Mortlake Crematorium took place in the evening.
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| Amanda Thatcher, granddaughter of Margaret Thatcher |
Adieu Thatcher...
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