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Margaret Thatcher funeral: crowds applaud as cortege passes Margaret Thatcher funeral: crowds applaud as cortege passes
(35 minutes later)
Lady Thatcher left parliament for the last time on Wednesday morning as her coffin was taken by hearse from the crypt of St Mary Undercroft, where it rested overnight, to the RAF church of St Clement Danes in the Strand before her funeral.
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/>Crowds lined the route to pay their respects (video) as the funeral cortege drove slowly through the cordoned off streets in central London, past Westminster Abbey and into Parliament Square. 		The body of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher was borne with full military honours to St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday, as thousands lined the streets of central London to pay respects on the day of her funeral.
Draped in a union flag, with a simple wreath of white flowers atop and the tribute "Beloved mother, always in our hearts", it was carried by gun-carriage drawn by six black horses to the cathedral where a congregation of more than 2,300 guests from all over the world was gathered.
The national anthem heralded the arrival of the Queen at St Paul's at 10.45am, her presence elevating Thatcher's ceremonial funeral to that of state funeral in all but name.
It is the first time she has attended the funeral of one of her prime ministers since Sir Winston Churchill's in 1965.
The 1.5-tonne gun carriage, escorted by the Kings troop Royal Horse Artillery, and a tri-service military procession, arrived at the cathedral shortly before 11am.
The crowd applauded as the cortege made its way along the Strand past Fleet Street and up Ludgate Hill to the cathedral. Some booing too could be heard, with a handful of protesters turning their backs as the coffin went past. Angry exchanges broke out between supporters and demonstrators as the gun carriage made its way along the Strand.
A single gun was fired in salute from Tower Wharf for each minute of the procession as the muffled bell of St Paul's tolled.
Thatcher's children, Sir Mark Thatcher and his twin sister Carol, had arrived just after 10.30am, as the procession was making its way to St Paul's. They were accompanied by the former premier's grandchildren, Michael and Amanda.
A Guard of Honour from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, alongside the Band of the Welsh Guards and Massed Corps of Drums plus Drum Major of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, met the funeral procession at St Paul's as the coffin was carried by a bearer party up the steps lined with Chelsea Pensioners.
Thatcher had left parliament for the last time at 10am as her coffin was taken by hearse from the crypt of St Mary Undercroft, where it rested overnight, to the RAF church of St Clement Danes in the Strand .
The cortege drove slowly through the cordoned off streets in central London, past Westminster Abbey and into Parliament Square.
Big Ben fell silent, but crowds applauded as the hearse passed the Cenotaph and Downing Street, the home she inhabited for 11 years – the longest tenure of any modern British prime minister.Big Ben fell silent, but crowds applauded as the hearse passed the Cenotaph and Downing Street, the home she inhabited for 11 years – the longest tenure of any modern British prime minister.
With a police motorcycle escort, the cortege drove past Trafalgar Square – where the poll tax demonstrations, which had a profound impact on her government, took place.With a police motorcycle escort, the cortege drove past Trafalgar Square – where the poll tax demonstrations, which had a profound impact on her government, took place.
Her coffin, draped in a union flag, was borne into St Clement Danes and placed in the centre of the church. Atop it was a simple wreath of white roses, with the tribute: "Beloved mother. Always in our hearts." Her coffin was borne into St Clement Danes and placed in the centre of the church.
Prayers were said at St Clement Danes before the coffin was transferred to a 1.5-tonne gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery for the military procession to St Paul's Cathedral. Prayers were said before it was transferred to the gun carriage for the military procession to St Paul's.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were heading the 2,300 strong invited congregation, which began arriving shortly before 9am.
Outside the cathedral, many hundreds of spectators stood in the light drizzle and amid a sea of union flags, some of whom had camped out overnight to witness the event.Outside the cathedral, many hundreds of spectators stood in the light drizzle and amid a sea of union flags, some of whom had camped out overnight to witness the event.
Dignitaries from 170 countries are attending the 11am service, Downing Street said, included 11 serving prime ministers, and 17 serving foreign ministers from across the globe.Dignitaries from 170 countries are attending the 11am service, Downing Street said, included 11 serving prime ministers, and 17 serving foreign ministers from across the globe.
Union flags and national flags of the UK were lowered to half mast above Downing Street and at landmark buildings around the UK at 8am, and will remain so until dusk.Union flags and national flags of the UK were lowered to half mast above Downing Street and at landmark buildings around the UK at 8am, and will remain so until dusk.
As critics condemned the scale and cost of the ceremonial, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, said it would cost "much, much less", than a reported £10m. Downing Street has said the cost to the public purse would be published after the event. Maude said: "The costs will be a fraction of what is being banded around." An undisclosed proportion is to be borne by the former prime minister's estate.As critics condemned the scale and cost of the ceremonial, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, said it would cost "much, much less", than a reported £10m. Downing Street has said the cost to the public purse would be published after the event. Maude said: "The costs will be a fraction of what is being banded around." An undisclosed proportion is to be borne by the former prime minister's estate.
The congregation had begun arriving before 9am, when the cathedral's doors opened. Early arrivals included broadcaster Terry Wogan and the Duchess of York.The congregation had begun arriving before 9am, when the cathedral's doors opened. Early arrivals included broadcaster Terry Wogan and the Duchess of York.
Sir Geoffrey Howe, Thatcher's ex-chancellor who many believe played a significant role in her eventual political downfall, was in attendance, as well as the current chancellor, George Osborne, Tory grandee Ken Clarke and the London mayor, Boris Johnson. Johnson said outside: "Even for her fans and supporters like me, I don't think we expected to see quite so many people turn up to show their affection and their respect for Margaret Thatcher. It is a quite astonishing crowd."Sir Geoffrey Howe, Thatcher's ex-chancellor who many believe played a significant role in her eventual political downfall, was in attendance, as well as the current chancellor, George Osborne, Tory grandee Ken Clarke and the London mayor, Boris Johnson. Johnson said outside: "Even for her fans and supporters like me, I don't think we expected to see quite so many people turn up to show their affection and their respect for Margaret Thatcher. It is a quite astonishing crowd."
Former prime ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown arrived shortly before 10am as did former party leaders David Steel and David Owen. The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, was among foreign dignitaries. Guests also included the classical singer Katherine Jenkins.Former prime ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown arrived shortly before 10am as did former party leaders David Steel and David Owen. The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, was among foreign dignitaries. Guests also included the classical singer Katherine Jenkins.
Thatcher's body had rested overnight at the chapel of St Mary Undercroft at the Palace of Westminster where MPs, peers, and those who had worked with her were able to pay their respects following a short private service.Thatcher's body had rested overnight at the chapel of St Mary Undercroft at the Palace of Westminster where MPs, peers, and those who had worked with her were able to pay their respects following a short private service.
David Cameron hosted a dinner for a small group of guests at 10 Downing Street last night. Those in attendance included the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, former US vice president Dick Cheney and former US secretary of state James Baker. In an interview for the BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, David Cameron defended the ceremonial funeral as a fitting tribute to a major national figure, and urged political opponents to show respect during the event. "I think other countries in the world would think Britain had got it completely wrong if we didn't mark this in a proper way," he said.
In an interview for the BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Cameron defended the ceremonial funeral as a fitting tribute to a major national figure, and urged political opponents to show respect during the event. "I think other countries in the world would think Britain had got it completely wrong if we didn't mark this in a proper way," he said.
He added Britain's first female prime minister had created a new consensus during her time in power. "In a way, we are all Thatcherties now," he said.He added Britain's first female prime minister had created a new consensus during her time in power. "In a way, we are all Thatcherties now," he said.
As the numbers outside St Paul's swelled to several thousand, protesters were thin on the ground. Most were there to pay tribute, and some had travelled from afar.As the numbers outside St Paul's swelled to several thousand, protesters were thin on the ground. Most were there to pay tribute, and some had travelled from afar.
American Robert Cunningham, 29, diverted his holiday in Norway to make it to the funeral. Scotland Yard said three men were arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of criminal damage in the City of London. After the service, the coffin will travel by hearse to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and a private cremation at Mortlake crematorium will take place in the evening.
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. Respect is due to the office."
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 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."
Security was intense with more than 4,000 police on duty. Teams of officers arrived on the Strand at 7am and had closed the road to traffic by 8am.
Officers would be placed at intervals of 10 metres along the whole route, with more at crossings, one said.
Others patrolled the road on motorbike and horseback, with more on the pavements on foot. A handful of protesters arrived to demonstrate against the "glorifying" of the funeral and cuts to the welfare state.
Rebecca Lush Blum, 41, who set up a Facebook event encouraging protesters to turn their backs as the cortege passed, said: "It's provocative to have a state funeral for such a controversial politician. I don't want to shout or boo. I want to remember and respect all those who suffered under Margaret Thatcher."
Dave Winslow, 22, an anthropology student from Durham, at the Ludgate Circus protest, next to St Paul's said: "We plan to turn our backs. We want to maintain a dignified protest, it's counter-productive to cat call and sing Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead."
He added: "The government wants to glorify this. It is a massive propaganda campaign to idolise Margaret Thatcher."
Patricia Welsh, a 69-year-old retired youth worker, said: "Like anyone else she deserves a decent funeral, but not at the expense of the taxpayer."
Scotland Yard said three men were arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of criminal damage in the City of London after police spotted fresh graffiti on a wall in Threadneedle Street.
Thatcher's coffin is expected to arrive at St Paul's at 11am, when the funeral service will begin and is due to last just under an hour.
The service is 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 will travel by hearse to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and a private cremation at Mortlake crematorium will take place in the evening.