Photos: Thousands Gather To Pay Their Last Respects To Margaret Thatcher

More than 2,000 guests from around the world paid their last respects at the biggest such occasion since the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002 today as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher begins her final journey home.

Thousands of members of the public and the armed forces lined the funeral procession route through London.

PM David Cameron said it was a “fitting tribute” to a major figure.

Four thousand police officers were on duty in central London but, despite concerns about demonstrations, only a small number of protesters voiced their opposition to Lady Thatcher’s policies and there were no arrests.

Residents of a South Yorkshire village scarred by pit closures “celebrated” her funeral.
A rose was unveiled in memory of Baroness Thatcher in Grantham, Lincolnshire, where she was born.

Students at Somerville, Lady Thatcher’s former Oxford University college, gathered to watch the funeral.

The congregation at St Paul’s included Lady Thatcher’s family and all surviving British prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Sir John Major, the current cabinet and surviving members of Lady Thatcher’s governments.

There were tears, and occasional laughter, as the Bishop of London, The Right Reverend Richard Chartres, paid tribute to Lady Thatcher’s forthright character in a simple service, which, at her personal request, did not include any eulogies.
See photos below

An effigy of former Margaret Thatcher is placed in a ‘coffin’ as people gather to celebrate her in Goldthorpe (AFP)

Amanda Thatcher gives the first reading at the funeral (GETTY)

A protestor holds aloft his note of disapproval (GETTY)

The coffin is carried as it arrives for the funeral service (Eddie Mulholland)

George Osbourne weeps

The Band of the Royal Marines plays as it follows the gun carriage along Fleet St.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown arriving with his wife Sarah (GETTY)

Former Prime Ministers John Major and Tony Blair attend with their wives Norma Major and Cherie Blair (GETTY)

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger attends the funeral of Margaret Thatcher (GETTY)

Thatcher’s coffin is carried into St Clement Danes on the first part of its journey to St Paul’s.

The coffin of Margaret Thatcher rests in the Palace of Westminster (LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)