- Richard Chartres said in address: ‘After the storm of a life led in the heat of political controversy, there is a great calm’
- David Cameron says Iron Lady’s ‘difficult decisions, led to less division, less strife at the end of it’
- Chancellor George Osborne seen sobbing as the service went on, while other high-profile figures were also moved
- Spontaneous applause and cheers erupted from the crowds as Baroness’s coffin passed through London
- Others threw white roses in the path of the gun carriage that carried Lady Thatcher to St Paul’s for the 11am service
- More than 2,000 people from 170 countries attend the former Conservative prime minister’s service
- David Cameron, Tony Blair, Sir John Major, Henry Kissenger and MPs past and present arrive at St Paul’s
- More than 4,000 officers on duty today in an attempt to guard against violent demonstrations, which failed to happen
Baroness Thatcher was today honoured with a sombre but spectacular funeral ceremony that paid tribute to the ‘courage and perseverance’ of Britain’s greatest peacetime prime minister.
An estimated 250,000 mourners lined the streets to pay tribute to the UK’s one and only female political leader, and broke into spontaneous applause, cheers and whistles of support rang around the streets of London as the coffin passed them.
Mourners also threw white roses in the path of the gun carriage that carried Lady Thatcher through the capital.
The widespread protests and disorder that had been predicted failed to happen, with only a few boos being heard.
But the Bishop of London struck the day’s one sour note with his address.
The Right Reverend Richard Chartres said: ‘After the storm of a life led in the heat of political controversy, there is a great calm.
‘The storm of conflicting opinions centres on the Mrs Thatcher who became a symbolic figure – even an ism.
‘Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service.’
Dignitaries queued as the doors to St Paul’s opened this morning as they waited to be seated for the funeral. Former prime ministers Tony Blair and Sir John Major arrived together, before David Cameron arrived with his wife Samantha.
The Prime Minister told the congregation: ‘In the end, the breaking of the mould, the difficult decisions, led to less division, less strife at the end of it.’
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the service, the first political funeral the Monarch has attended since Winston Churchill’s in 1965.
Lady Thatcher’s twins Sir Mark and Carol looked moved throughout and her grandchildren Michael and Amanda were waiting at the cathedral door holding cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit, which they then placed on the Dome Altar.
Sombre: Lady Thatcher’s family, including (l-r) daughter Carol Thatcher, Marco Grass, Sarah Thatcher, son Mark Thatcher, grandson Michael Thatcher and granddaughter Amanda Thatcher, with the Queen and Prince Philip (behind) outside St Paul’s
Difficult time: Lady Thatcher’s son Mark Thatcher, his sister Carol and other family members listen to prayers during the service
Sad: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh look on as the bearer party, dressed in their regimental or service uniform, bring the coffin into the cathedral
Paying tribute: The Bishop of London gives the address in which he says Baroness Thatcher became a ‘symbolic figure’
Poignant: A tri-service bearer party, drawn from ships, squadrons and regiments associated with the Falklands, take the coffin on their shoulders as the gun carriage draws awayThe Bishop of London went on: ‘Lying here, she is one of us, subject to the common destiny of all human beings.’
He added: ‘There is an important place for debating policies and legacy; for assessing the impact of political decisions on the everyday lives of individuals and communities.
‘Parliament held a frank debate last week – but here and today is neither the time nor the place.’
He said: ‘This, at Lady Thatcher’s personal request, is a funeral service, not a memorial service with the customary eulogies.
‘At such a time, the parson should not aspire to the judgments which are proper to the politician; instead this is a place for ordinary human compassion of the kind that is reconciling.
Mr Cameron said Lady Thatcher was a much more subtle politician than people often gave her credit for, and did not rush into confrontations.
‘One of the things about her legacy is some of those big arguments that she had everyone now accepts,’ he said.
‘No one wants to go back to trade unions that are undemocratic or one-sided nuclear disarmament, or having great private businesses in the public sector.’
Mr Cameron, who was 12 when Lady Thatcher came to power in 1979, said her influence was partly responsible for him joining the Conservatives.
He said his aim was to take the “resolution” Lady Thatcher brought to economic problems and apply it to Britain’s social problems.
Confident: Margaret Thatcher’s only granddaughter, Amanda, paid tribute to the former Prime Minister with a clear and heartfelt reading at her funeral
Belting it out: David Cameron, George Osborne, the Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen sign a hymn during the service
Taking part: The congregation sings a hymn as part of a service, which reflected Baroness Thatcher’s strong Christian faith
Ready for the service: The congregation, which comprises friends, family and dignitaries from around the world, talk among themselves
Grief: Lady Thatcher’s grandchildren Michael and Amanda wait at the cathedral entrance holding cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit, which they then placed on the Dome Altar
Many of those who gathered on the pavements, had been camping out overnight to get the best view, and were dressed in sombre colours for the occasion.
Before being transferred to the gun carriage that would take her to St Paul’s, prayers were said by St Clement Danes resident chaplain the Rev David Osborn. Her coffin was then taken by six black horses slowly, led by a brass band, to St Paul’s.
As a mark of respect all Union flags and the national flags of the UK were lowered to half-mast at buildings she passed.
Sarah, Duchess of York, was among the first to arrive. The former wife of the Duke of York, wearing a black dress and matching hat, arrived shortly after the cathedral doors opened. Broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan was also among the first mourners.
Margaret Kittle, 79, said she travelled from Canada for the funeral as soon as she heard of Lady Thatcher’s death, taking up her position outside the historic landmark at 8am yesterday.
‘It was a cold night, the damp goes through you,’ she said. ‘But I always said I would come to the UK for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral because I respect her.
‘I think the spots we have here are very good because this way we can see everything and everyone arriving. I spent 50 hours waiting for the Queen Mother’s funeral so this isn’t the first time I have done this.
‘I think she did a lot for the world. She was an intelligent lady – a chemist and a lawyer – and a lovely lady as well. Apparently she always made her husband Denis’s breakfast.’
Solemn: Members of the armed forces carry Baroness Thatcher into St Paul’s for her funeral service
Nearing her final journey: The Union Flag-draped coffin of Lady Thatcher just after it arrives outside St Paul’s on a horse-drawn gun carriage
Down to a T: The former prime minister meticulously planned how the farewell service will run, from the singing to who gives the readings
Shedding a tear: Chancellor George Osborne becomes emotional during the service for the former Conservative Prime Minister
Sombre occasion: Lady Thatcher’s son, Mark, comforts his twin sister Carol as they make their way into the cathedral
State occasion: The Queen, who has only ever been to the funeral of one Prime Minister, that of Winston Churchill’s in 1965, arrives at St Paul’s
Paying respect: Former Prime Ministers John Major (C) and Tony Blair with their wives Norma Major and Cherie Blair (L) arrive at St Paul’s Cathedral
Remembering a fellow PM: Current Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha arrive dressed in black for the funeral service
Just after 10.05am her coffin, draped in the Union flag and topped with a large white bouquet, was gently eased on to the shoulders of four pallbearers and carried in to the church.
St Clement Danes church, the RAF chapel on The Strand, is where the coffin was carefully transferred to a gun carriage and borne in procession to St Paul’s Cathedral for the funeral service.
Statues of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, commander-in-chief of RAF Bomber Command from 1942 to 1945, and Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding who led Fighter Command from 1936 to 1940, stood proud and protectively as the hearse arrived.
The gentle clapping was in stark contrast to the sound of loud church bells which had pealed out from 9.45am ahead of her arrival.
It was the first activity of the funeral procession for the crowds who also saw lines of military personnel march by in precision waves.
With the coffin now out of view, the crowds stood in silence except for the sound of a military band playing in the background.
Then the words “Oh beautiful” could be heard as the pristine gun carriage pulled in at 10.19am.
There was silence as the crowds, pinned back by barriers, waited patiently for another glimpse of the coffin.
The loud church bells signalled movement at just before 10.30am and hundreds of cameras which were being held by members of the public to try to catch a personal memento of the historic event.
Procession: Undertakers take Lady Thatcher’s coffin out of the chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster
Emotional scenes: Lady Thatcher’s body driven past the Houses of Parliament, where she served for more than five decades
Protection: Police riders accompany the hearse away from the Palace of Westminster on the way to St Clement Danes
Seat of power: The hearse passing Downing Street, where Lady Thatcher lived for her 11 years as Prime Minister
Tribute: Police inside Downing Street watch the hearse drive past
Prayers: The scene inside St Clement Danes, where prayers were said over Lady Thatcher’s body
Commemoration: The short service on the Strand took place around half an hour before the funeral itself
March: A military band walks past, heralding the arrival of Lady Thatcher’s coffin at St Paul’s
Band: Drummers, trombone players and trumpeters marched through London in ceremonial dress
Parade: Red-coated soldiers formed a guard of honour for the former Prime Minister’s body
Honour: The casket was mounted onto the gun carriage to be transported from St Clements to the cathedral
Cortege: The carriage was pulled with a horse down the Strand and Fleet Street towards St Paul’s
Grand: Soldiers rode horses alongside the gun carriage on Lady Thatcher’s final journey
Rammed: Some onlookers had been waiting in Fleet Street for hours to welcome the funeral cortege
En route: The gun carriage on its journey from the church to the cathedral for the ceremony
Spectacle: Baroness Thatcher’s coffin, mounted on a gun carriage, transported through the City of London to St Paul’s Cathedral
Cheering: Despite fears of disruptions, most of those in attendance reacted joyfully to the appearance of the cortege
Processing in: The service, conducted by the Bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, a long-standing friend of Lady Thatcher, will reflect her public love of her country and her private literary tastesA tri-service party of pallbearers of 10 personnel, led by an Officer and Garrison Sergeant Major of the Welsh Guards, then carried the coffin out of the church and placed it on a gun carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Led by a band of HM Royal Marines, the gun carriage moved off in procession from St Clement Danes to St Paul’s Cathedral for the funeral service.
Lady Thatcher was now re-united with the Falklands units and military personnel who would escort her to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Then the applause came once again from the onlookers – only this time it was louder than before and came in a boom rather than a ripple.
The crowds had slowly grown after the morning rush hour from the odd commuter passing by to include well-wishers, tourists and some people who were not fans of the former prime minister.
Two St George’s flags flew at half-mast from either side of the church, which was closely guarded by pairs of uniformed police wearing white gloves at every entrance.
Arrivals: Guests filing in to the nave of St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of the ceremonial funeral
Political representatives: Prime Minister David Cameron takes his seat as Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow arrives to pay his respects at the service
Attendees: British opera singer Katherine Jenkins and London Mayor Boris Johnson are also among the guests for the funeral service
Guests: The Duchess of York and army veteran Simon Weston, who suffered horrific injuries during the Falklands War, arrive at St Paul’s to pay their respects
relaxed atmosphere: Sarah Ferguson has a laugh and a joke as she takes her seat inside the cathedral ahead of the funeral service
Political heavyweights: Chancellor George Osborne and Business Secretary Vince Cable make their way into the cathedral ahead of the service
Taking their position: Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Minister without portfolio Ken Clarke
Admirers: Margaret Thatcher’s longest-serving cabinet minister Geoffrey Howe (left) and Michael Portillo who served as a junior minister under the late PM
Star turn: Actress Joan Collins attends the ceremonial funeral of former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher
Saying a final farewell: Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson (left) and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond (right) are also among the attendees
Mourners: Friends, family and dignitaries gather on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of the service which will take place at 11am
Grief: Lady Thatcher’s press secretary Bernard Ingham (left) and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond (right) prepare to take their seats inside the cathedral
Mrs Kittle, a retired nurse from Winona, Canada, added: ‘We will never see the likes of Mrs Thatcher again.’
John Loughrey, who was dressed head-to-toe in Union Jack clothing, arrived at St Paul’s shortly after Mrs Kittle yesterday morning.
‘I came in respect of Lady Thatcher,’ the 58-year-old said.
‘She came to power in a man’s world and she won. Everything she fought for, she won.
‘She was a great politician. We were living in the dark and she brought us back to the light. She put the ‘great’ back in Great Britain.’
In Whitehall, opposite Downing Street, housewife Wafa Alsamarrai, 59, said: ‘Mrs Thatcher was a great lady. She did a lot of good things for the country.’
Standing in the rain with Mrs Alsamarrai was grandmother Maria Ruotolo, 78, from Fulham, who said she had ‘nothing but good memories’ of Lady Thatcher.
Next to her was Jane Moss, 66, also from Fulham. She said: ‘Mrs Thatcher was a real lady. I met her once and she was so nice and kind to my daughter Lucy who was just seven at the time.’
American Robert Cunningham, 29, diverted his holiday in Norway to make it to the funeral.
He said: ‘She was a foreign prime minister, regardless of the good, bad or otherwise.
‘She did a lot for our country, a lot for the relationship between the UK and the USA.
‘She was a powerful lady, she stood by what she believed, even if it was not popular.’
Emotional occasion: Gloria Martin wipes away tears while another fan holds an ‘I Love Maggie’ T-shirt as they join the crowds on the procession route
First to arrive: Spectators gather by St Paul’s Cathedral along the route of today’s funeral procession. Many had arrived by 6.30am
Paying tribute: A supporter holds a ‘Thank you, Mrs Thatcher’ sign as crowds gather outside St Paul’s Cathedral ahead of her funeral
Fans: Margaret Kittel and John Loughrey camped out in London overnight to ensure they got the best viewing point for Baroness Thatcher’s funeral procession
Sign of respect: Bashkim Krasniqi, 28, from Kosovo, holds up a sign along the route. He grabbed his spot before dawn to ensure a good view of the procession
Proud police officers take their places outside St Clement Danes this morning, ahead of the funeral procession
Patriots: A man holds a Union Jack umbrella as he leans against a post box as crowds prepare to welcome Lady Thatcher’s coffin at St Paul’sRichard Sibley, 63, of Chigwell, Essex, said he was pleased not to see any protesters outside St Paul’s ahead of the funeral.
He said: ‘She deserves it, she deserves every respect of this occasion.
‘There are always people who want to write things down but she put the “Great” back in Britain.
‘Although people in mining communities say she destroyed them, it was the democratic right of the people of this country.’
Conservative Future member Thomas Burley travelled from Barry, South Wales, to watch proceedings at St Paul’s.
The 25-year-old said: ‘I’ve come to see the funeral of probably the greatest prime minister we have known.
‘I don’t think many people from Barry would agree – but I do know there are a few people I know in Wales who think the world of her.
‘I do believe personally the unions had to be broken. They chose to strike, she did not choose it – they chose it, without a ballot.’
Waiting her arrival: At precisely 10.33am, the coffin was due to begin its journey to St Paul’s Cathedral, with guns fired from the Tower of London every minute
In her memory: The Union Jack flies half mast over Trafalgar square ahead of the funeral procession for the former prime minister this morning
Leave a reply