Ceremonial funeral for Margaret Thatcher in London

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 17 April 2013 | 22.40

The ceremonial funeral of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher has taken place in London.

Mrs Thatcher, who governed Britain from 1979 to 1990, died last week following a stroke at the age of 87.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were among the 2,000 guests who attended the service.

The Government was represented by Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn.

Thousands of supporters lined the streets of London as her casket made its final journey from Westminster to the service on top of a gun carriage draped in the union flag.

More than 4,000 police officers were on duty as part of a major security operation, standing every 5 - 10 metres along the route.

Most people clapped in respect but about two dozen opponents turned their backs on the procession.

Mrs Thatcher's grand-daughter Amanda gave the first reading at this morning's service in St Paul's Cathedral, while Prime Minister David Cameron read the second.

The service was led by the Dean of St Paul's, Dr David Ison.

Bishop of London Richard Chartres gave the sermon and the blessing was given by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

Following the service, pallbearers carried Mrs Thatcher's coffin from the Cathedral to a waiting hearse to be taken to The Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Around 150 guests, including her children Sir Mark and Carol Thatcher, took part in a private service at the chapel last night.

The medieval chapel underneath St Stephen's Hall in the Palace of Westminster stayed open yesterday evening for MPs, peers and parliamentary staff to pay their respects.

The coffin was taken from parliament by hearse to the nearby church of St Clement Danes this morning.

It was then transferred to a King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery gun carriage.

Processional minute guns fired at the Tower of London as the carriage made its way to St Paul's Cathedral. The Big Ben bell was silenced for the grandest funeral for a British politician since that of Winston Churchill in 1965.

Polls have shown that many are unhappy that the estimated £10 million bill for the ceremonial funeral is being picked up by the taxpayer.

"She was the first woman prime minister, she served for longer in the job than anyone for 150 years, she achieved some extraordinary things in her life," said Mr Cameron, leader of Mrs Thatcher's Conservative party.

"What is happening today is absolutely fitting and right," he said.

Argentina's ambassador to London Alicia Castro declined an invitation to attend the funeral, in a mark of continuing tension over the Falkland Islands.

There were other notable absences. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Nancy Reagan, the widow of Mrs Thatcher's great US ally Ronald Reagan, are too frail to attend.

The guest list for her funeral has prompted talk of diplomatic snubs. A spokesman for Mr Cameron denied the United States had snubbed Britain by not sending anyone senior from the administration of President Barack Obama.

Former US vice-president Dick Cheney and ex-secretary of state Henry Kissinger attended in a personal capacity.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande was represented by Élisabeth Guigou, a close adviser to Francois Mitterrand while Mrs Thatcher was in office, rather than a serving member of his administration.


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