This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22177366
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Margaret Thatcher: Queen leads mourners at funeral | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Baroness Thatcher is at peace after "a life led in the heat of political controversy", the Bishop London has said in his funeral sermon. | Baroness Thatcher is at peace after "a life led in the heat of political controversy", the Bishop London has said in his funeral sermon. |
| The Right Reverend Richard Chartres paid tribute to her forthright character, Methodist upbringing and the compassion she showed to others. | The Right Reverend Richard Chartres paid tribute to her forthright character, Methodist upbringing and the compassion she showed to others. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron has called the funeral a "fitting tribute to a great prime minister". | Prime Minister David Cameron has called the funeral a "fitting tribute to a great prime minister". |
| The Queen is among more than 2,000 dignitaries paying their last respects. | The Queen is among more than 2,000 dignitaries paying their last respects. |
| Four thousand police officers are on duty in central London, with large crowds along the route of her funeral procession, which was conducted with full military honours. | Four thousand police officers are on duty in central London, with large crowds along the route of her funeral procession, which was conducted with full military honours. |
| There were reports of some protests but the Right Reverend Chartres told the congregation in St Paul's "today is neither the time nor the place" for political debate. | There were reports of some protests but the Right Reverend Chartres told the congregation in St Paul's "today is neither the time nor the place" for political debate. |
| 'Destiny' | 'Destiny' |
| "After the storm of a life led in the heat of political controversy, there is a great calm. | "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. | "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. | "Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service. |
| "Lying here, she is one of us, subject to the common destiny of all human beings." | "Lying here, she is one of us, subject to the common destiny of all human beings." |
| The funeral service began with readings from the King James Bible by Mr Cameron and Lady Thatcher's granddaughter Amanda, with hymns chosen by the former prime minister. | The funeral service began with readings from the King James Bible by Mr Cameron and Lady Thatcher's granddaughter Amanda, with hymns chosen by the former prime minister. |
| A gun carriage drawn by six black horses carried Lady Thatcher to St Paul's, where a congregation of more than 2,300 guests gathered to pay their final respects. | A gun carriage drawn by six black horses carried Lady Thatcher to St Paul's, where a congregation of more than 2,300 guests gathered to pay their final respects. |
| Earlier the longest-serving British prime minister in modern times left Parliament for the last time as a hearse took her body from the crypt chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster to the start of the military procession at St Clement Danes in The Strand. | |
| A white floral arrangement on top of the funeral bore a had-written card, from her children Carol and Sir Mark, reading: "Beloved mother, always in our hearts." | A white floral arrangement on top of the funeral bore a had-written card, from her children Carol and Sir Mark, reading: "Beloved mother, always in our hearts." |
| Members of all three services and 16 Chelsea pensioners lined the steps of St Paul's as Lady Thatcher's coffin was borne into the cathedral. | Members of all three services and 16 Chelsea pensioners lined the steps of St Paul's as Lady Thatcher's coffin was borne into the cathedral. |
| 'Sombre event' | 'Sombre event' |
| Lady Thatcher, who was Conservative Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990, died on 8 April, following a stroke, at the age of 87. | Lady Thatcher, who was Conservative Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990, died on 8 April, following a stroke, at the age of 87. |
| She has been accorded a ceremonial funeral with military honours, one step down from a state funeral. | She has been accorded a ceremonial funeral with military honours, one step down from a state funeral. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Prime Minister David Cameron said it would have been seen as extraordinary not to commemorate her life. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Prime Minister David Cameron said it would have been seen as extraordinary not to commemorate her life. |
| "I think it will be quite a sombre event, but it is a fitting tribute to a great prime minister respected around the world, and 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," | "I think it will be quite a sombre event, but it is a fitting tribute to a great prime minister respected around the world, and 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," |
| Asked about those who wanted to challenge his view of Lady Thatcher, the prime minister said: "Of course people have the right to disagree and take a different view. | Asked about those who wanted to challenge his view of Lady Thatcher, the prime minister said: "Of course people have the right to disagree and take a different view. |
| "But when you're mourning the passing of an 87-year-old woman who was the first woman prime minister, who served for longer in the job than anyone for 150 years I think it's appropriate to show respect." | "But when you're mourning the passing of an 87-year-old woman who was the first woman prime minister, who served for longer in the job than anyone for 150 years I think it's appropriate to show respect." |
| He said he had been "partly" inspired, as a young man, to join the Conservative Party by Baroness Thatcher, who he thought was a "very brave woman doing a tough job". | He said he had been "partly" inspired, as a young man, to join the Conservative Party by Baroness Thatcher, who he thought was a "very brave woman doing a tough job". |
| 'Humble service' | 'Humble service' |
| As well as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, all 32 members of the current cabinet are attending the service, along with more than 30 members of Lady Thatcher's cabinets from her time as prime minister. | As well as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, all 32 members of the current cabinet are attending the service, along with more than 30 members of Lady Thatcher's cabinets from her time as prime minister. |
| Among the foreign dignitaries expected to attend were Kuwaiti prime minister Sheikh Jaber Mubark Al-Sabah, the son of the ruler of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al Sabah, and Italian prime minister Mario Monti. | |
| Notable absences were former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who could not attend due to ill health, and former US first lady Nancy Reagan, who was also unable to come. | |
| There are more than 50 guests associated with the Falkland Islands, including veterans from the 1982 conflict with Argentina, but Argentina's ambassador to London, Alicia Castro, has declined an invitation to attend. | There are more than 50 guests associated with the Falkland Islands, including veterans from the 1982 conflict with Argentina, but Argentina's ambassador to London, Alicia Castro, has declined an invitation to attend. |
| Alan Southern, a former member of the Parachute Regiment who fought in the Falklands War, said: "Lady Thatcher was an absolutely wonderful lady. She loved the armed forces and she did so much for the country, she put the 'great' back in Great Britain." | Alan Southern, a former member of the Parachute Regiment who fought in the Falklands War, said: "Lady Thatcher was an absolutely wonderful lady. She loved the armed forces and she did so much for the country, she put the 'great' back in Great Britain." |
| In total, two current heads of state, 11 serving prime ministers and 17 serving foreign ministers from around the world will attend. | In total, two current heads of state, 11 serving prime ministers and 17 serving foreign ministers from around the world will attend. |
| Six police forces from outside London have sent specialist officers to help with escorting foreign dignitaries. | Six police forces from outside London have sent specialist officers to help with escorting foreign dignitaries. |
| Various roads along the route were closed from 07:30 BST, and Transport for London has advised drivers to avoid Westminster and the City of London. The roads are expected to be re-opened as soon as possible following the funeral. | Various roads along the route were closed from 07:30 BST, and Transport for London has advised drivers to avoid Westminster and the City of London. The roads are expected to be re-opened as soon as possible following the funeral. |
| 'Difficult balance' | |
| There were union jacks on display, as well as flags from the US, Canada, Scotland, Poland and the Falkland Islands. | There were union jacks on display, as well as flags from the US, Canada, Scotland, Poland and the Falkland Islands. |
| Wednesday's House of Commons sitting has been delayed until 14:30 BST, meaning the cancellation of Prime Minister's Questions, in order to allow MPs to attend - a move approved in a Commons vote on Tuesday. | Wednesday's House of Commons sitting has been delayed until 14:30 BST, meaning the cancellation of Prime Minister's Questions, in order to allow MPs to attend - a move approved in a Commons vote on Tuesday. |
| The Metropolitan Police said it had been contacted by a small number of protesters to say they were planning action on the funeral route in protest at the impact of some of Lady Thatcher's policies while she was in power. Other protests are expected elsewhere. | The Metropolitan Police said it had been contacted by a small number of protesters to say they were planning action on the funeral route in protest at the impact of some of Lady Thatcher's policies while she was in power. Other protests are expected elsewhere. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said although Monday's bomb attack at the Boston Marathon was not believed to have led to any significant changes in security for the funeral, it was expected that the police and public would be more vigilant. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said although Monday's bomb attack at the Boston Marathon was not believed to have led to any significant changes in security for the funeral, it was expected that the police and public would be more vigilant. |
| He said arguably the biggest headache for police was how to respond to any spontaneous protests along the funeral route or close to mourners. | He said arguably the biggest headache for police was how to respond to any spontaneous protests along the funeral route or close to mourners. |
| Senior officers acknowledged they had a "difficult" balance to strike between allowing people to express their opinions and maintaining order, he added. | Senior officers acknowledged they had a "difficult" balance to strike between allowing people to express their opinions and maintaining order, he added. |
| Police have powers to arrest those who use "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour", but Scotland Yard said it was not for the police to "uphold respect". | Police have powers to arrest those who use "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour", but Scotland Yard said it was not for the police to "uphold respect". |
| Lady Thatcher's union jack-draped coffin was placed in the Palace of Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft overnight on Tuesday. | Lady Thatcher's union jack-draped coffin was placed in the Palace of Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft overnight on Tuesday. |
| A short service, led by the Dean of Westminster, was held for members of the family, senior parliamentarians, and staff from Parliament and Downing Street. | A short service, led by the Dean of Westminster, was held for members of the family, senior parliamentarians, and staff from Parliament and Downing Street. |
| The House of Commons speaker's chaplain kept vigil in the chapel through the night. | The House of Commons speaker's chaplain kept vigil in the chapel through the night. |
| The chimes of Big Ben will be silenced for the duration of Lady Thatcher's funeral. St Paul's has published a full funeral order of service. | The chimes of Big Ben will be silenced for the duration of Lady Thatcher's funeral. St Paul's has published a full funeral order of service. |