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No state funeral for Margaret Thatcher No state funeral for Margaret Thatcher
(about 5 hours later)
Lady Thatcher will be honoured with a funeral of a scale not accorded to a former prime minister since the lavish spectacle of Winston Churchill's state funeral half a century ago, with the brunt of costs expected to be borne by the taxpayer. Lady Thatcher will be honoured with a funeral of a scale not accorded to a former prime minister since the lavish spectacle of Winston Churchill's state funeral half a century ago – and much of the cost is expected to be borne by the taxpayer.
Downing Street announced that Britain's first female prime minister would receive a rare ceremonial funeral, with gun carriage, military procession and a service at St Paul's Cathedral, in the style of the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother. Downing Street announced that Britain's first female prime minister would receive a ceremonial funeral, with gun carriage, military procession and a service at St Paul's Cathedral, in the style of the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Queen Mother.
One rung below a state funeral, which is normally accorded to sovereigns, a ceremonial funeral requires the consent of the Queen, which has been given. There will be no public lying-in-state, at Thatcher's own request. One rung below a state funeral – as normally accorded to sovereigns – a ceremonial funeral requires the consent of the Queen, which has been given. There will be no public lying in state, at Thatcher's own request.
Costs are to be borne by the government and Lady Thatcher's estate, with Downing Street declining to reveal at this stage the proportion to be met by the state. A No 10 spokesman said the costs to the public purse would be published after the event. One Whitehall source said: "It will look and feel like a state funeral to all intents and purposes."
They will undoubtedly include the costs of the planned military procession, involving hundreds of members of the armed services, and of the major policing and security operation expected to be mounted. Costs are to be borne by the government and Thatcher's estate, with Downing Street declining to reveal at this stage the proportion to be met by the nation. A No 10 spokesman said the payments from the public purse would be published after the event. They will undoubtedly include the costs of the planned military procession, involving hundreds of members of the armed services, and of the major policing and security operation expected to be mounted.
The total costs of policing the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002 ran to £4.3m, of which £2.1m was additional costs directly attributed to the funeral arrangements. The bill to the Ministry of Defence was revealed to be £301,000. Thatcher was understood to fear that a parliamentary bill, which would have to be passed to permit public funds for a state funeral, could prompt a divisive debate.
Reports at the time indicated the total costs of Diana's ceremonial funeral was greater than £3m, and may have been closer to £5m. Thatcher's coffin will be moved to the chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster on the night before the funeral. On the day, the streets will be cleared of traffic and the coffin will be taken by hearse to the church of St Clement Danes, the RAF chapel in the Strand. From there it will be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and borne in procession to St Paul's, along a route lined by tri-service military personnel and members of the public who wish to pay tribute.
In the case of a state funeral, parliamentary approval is usually sought in advance, primarily to authorise funds. But there is little visible difference between a state and ceremonial funeral. At St Paul's, there will be a military guard of honour and Chelsea pensioners will line the steps. The service, which will be televised, is expected to reflect Thatcher's love of Elgar. It is not known whether the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will play a formal role.
Plans reportedly mooted in 2008, under Gordon Brown's premiership, for a state funeral for Thatcher caused controversy at the time. But according to her friend and spokesman Lord Bell, Thatcher herself did not wish for a state funeral and thought a fly-past over the service would be a waste of money. Guests at the ticket-only service will include political leaders as well as people and groups with connections to Thatcher. It is not yet known whether the Queen will attend.
"She specifically did not want a state funeral and nor did her family. She particularly did not wish to lie in state as she thought that was not appropriate. And she didn't want a fly-past as she thought that was a waste of money – somewhat in character, you might think. She expressed those views to me personally and she will get what she wanted," Bell said. After the service there will be a private cremation. It is understood Thatcher wished to be laid to rest beside her husband, Denis, who died in 2003, in the cemetery of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Apart from Churchill, three other prime ministers received a full state funeral in modern times: the Duke of Wellington in 1852, Viscount Palmerston in 1865 and William Gladstone in 1898. The funerals of later prime ministers have tended to be more modest affairs.
The armed forces will play a key part, in accordance with Thatcher's wishes. Her coffin will be moved to Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster on the night before the funeral. Ironically, the funeral of Thatcher, whose government was responsible for the "big bang" deregulation of the City, will take place in the middle of a series of open debates to run from 11 April at the cathedral on "the City and the common good".
On the day, the streets will be cleared of traffic and the coffin will be taken by hearse to the Church of St Clement Danes, the RAF chapel on the Strand. From there it will be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King's Troop Royal Artillery and borne in procession to St Paul's, along a route lined by tri-service military personnel and members of the public who wish to pay tribute.
At St Paul's there will be a military guard of honour, and Chelsea pensioners will line the steps. The service, which will be televised, is expected to reflect Thatcher's love of Elgar. It is not yet known whether the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will play a formal role.
Guests to the ticket-only service will include political leaders as well as people and groups with connections to her. It is not yet known whether the Queen will attend.
After the service there will be a private cremation. It is understood that Thatcher expressed wishes to be laid to rest beside her husband, Denis. in the cemetery of the Royal Chelsea hospital.
Apart from Churchill, three other prime ministers to receive a full state funeral in modern times were the Duke of Wellington in 1852, Viscount Palmerston in 1865 and William Gladstone in 1898. However, the funerals of post-war prime ministers have tended to be more modest affairs.
Ironically, the funeral of Thatcher, whose government was responsible for the "big bang" deregulation of the City, will take place in the middle of a series of open debates to run from 11 April at the cathedral on "The City and the Common Good".
St Paul's recently provided a backdrop for the Occupy movement in London, and when protesters were evicted it faced criticism from some quarters for its perceived acquiescence to the establishment.St Paul's recently provided a backdrop for the Occupy movement in London, and when protesters were evicted it faced criticism from some quarters for its perceived acquiescence to the establishment.