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Baroness Thatcher funeral rehearsal staged | Baroness Thatcher funeral rehearsal staged |
(35 minutes later) | |
A military rehearsal of Baroness Thatcher's funeral procession has taken place in central London. | |
More than 700 members of the armed forces drawn from all three services took part in the practice before dawn. | |
They will line the route of the funeral procession from Westminster to St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday. | They will line the route of the funeral procession from Westminster to St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday. |
Lady Thatcher's coffin is to be carried in a gun carriage drawn by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, which was involved in the rehearsal. | |
Maj Andrew Chatburn, the man in charge of choreographing the parade, said the rehearsal "went very well" and it was "vitally important" to stage a trial of Wednesday's event. | |
"Timings are most important," he said. | |
Maj Chatburn, ceremonial staff officer for the Household Division, who was also behind the royal wedding procession two years ago and last year's Diamond Jubilee parade, added: "Bearing in mind these are sailors, soldiers and airmen who have come in to do this specific task from their routine duties, so it's new to them. | |
"They need to see the ground as well so they can get a feel for how it's going to go and they can perform their duties with confidence on the day." | |
The procession band played the funeral marches of Chopin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn as it made its way along the deserted streets for the rehearsal. | |
The Chelsea Pensioners from Royal Hospital Chelsea did not take part due to the early start, but they will line the west steps of St Paul's for the real event. | |
The BBC's Ben Ando watched the rehearsal and said it was for the benefit of the service personnel taking part. | The BBC's Ben Ando watched the rehearsal and said it was for the benefit of the service personnel taking part. |
Scotland Yard's preparations are ongoing, he added, and the force says the security operation on the day will be in line with the perceived threat level. | Scotland Yard's preparations are ongoing, he added, and the force says the security operation on the day will be in line with the perceived threat level. |
Lady Thatcher, who died at the age of 87 on 8 April, has been awarded a ceremonial funeral with military honours, one step down from a state funeral. | Lady Thatcher, who died at the age of 87 on 8 April, has been awarded a ceremonial funeral with military honours, one step down from a state funeral. |
On Wednesday, the former prime minister's coffin will initially travel by hearse from the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes - the Central Church of the RAF - on the Strand. | |
It will then be transferred to the gun carriage and taken in procession to St Paul's Cathedral. | It will then be transferred to the gun carriage and taken in procession to St Paul's Cathedral. |
St Paul's Cathedral has published a full funeral programme. | St Paul's Cathedral has published a full funeral programme. |
Respect MP George Galloway has said he will try to block plans designed to allow MPs to attend Lady Thatcher's funeral. | Respect MP George Galloway has said he will try to block plans designed to allow MPs to attend Lady Thatcher's funeral. |
Ministers want to cancel Prime Minister's Questions and delay the start of parliamentary business - an approach backed by Labour. | Ministers want to cancel Prime Minister's Questions and delay the start of parliamentary business - an approach backed by Labour. |
But Mr Galloway has said he will object. Under parliamentary rules, the proposal would then have to be withdrawn, or MPs would have to hold a debate followed by a vote. | But Mr Galloway has said he will object. Under parliamentary rules, the proposal would then have to be withdrawn, or MPs would have to hold a debate followed by a vote. |
On Sunday, a song at the centre of an online campaign by opponents of Baroness Thatcher, reached number two after selling 52,605 copies. | On Sunday, a song at the centre of an online campaign by opponents of Baroness Thatcher, reached number two after selling 52,605 copies. |
The 51-second song, Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead from the Wizard of Oz film, was not played on BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Show. | The 51-second song, Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead from the Wizard of Oz film, was not played on BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Show. |
Instead, presenter Jameela Jamil linked to a Newsbeat reporter who explained why the song was in the chart. | Instead, presenter Jameela Jamil linked to a Newsbeat reporter who explained why the song was in the chart. |
The news report - which included a brief snippet of the song - also included two views from members of the public on the controversy, with one saying it was "quite funny", while the other said it was "disgraceful". | The news report - which included a brief snippet of the song - also included two views from members of the public on the controversy, with one saying it was "quite funny", while the other said it was "disgraceful". |