Margaret Thatcher funeral: A fitting farewell

Thousands of people lined the funeral procession route from Parliament to St Paul's Cathedral.

A gun carriage bearing the coffin was escorted by a Band of the Royal Marines who played solemn marches as they made their way slowly to St Paul's.

During the procession, which was accompanied by the sound of a Processional Minute Gun salute, mourners broke into spontaneous applause as the coffin went by.

On top of the coffin, draped in the Union flag, was a large bouquet of white roses bearing a hand-written card inscribed "Beloved Mother – always in our hearts".

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Inside St Paul's, the Queen headed a long list of dignitaries from around the world, former colleagues and celebrities who had gathered to honour Britain's first and only woman prime minister. Chancellor George Osborne, sitting behind David and Samantha Cameron, was among those seen in tears during the poignant service.

Mr Cameron along with Lady Thatcher's grand-daughter Amanda both gave readings from the King James Bible, while the address was delivered by the Bishop of London Richard Chartres. He said: "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'. Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service."

Earlier Mr Cameron insisted that by winning the big arguments Lady Thatcher had actually settled divisions.

"In a way we are all Thatcherites now," he said. "It is inevitable that some people take a different view but the point about division is important because she was a bold politician who recognised that consensus was failing, she created a new consensus."

He went on: "She was the first woman prime minister, she served for longer in the job than anyone for 150 years, she achieved some extraordinary things in her life. I think what is happening today is absolutely fitting and right."

Lady Thatcher's children, Sir Mark and Carol, led the family inside the cathedral.

Sir Mark said his mother would have been "humbled" to know the Queen was attending her funeral. "I would like to say how enormously proud and grateful we are that Her Majesty agreed to attend the service.

"And I know my mother would be greatly honoured as well as humbled by her presence."

They later went to the Lord Mayor's official residence in the city of London today for a post-funeral reception.

Lady Thatcher's ceremonial funeral, which is one level below a full state funeral, has been described as a "fitting tribute" to the former prime minister, who changed the face of British politics. However, a small group of protesters gathered to demonstrate against the "glorifying" of the funeral and the £10 million cost, but there have been no arrests as yet.

At dawn today, Union Flags and the national flags of the UK were lowered to half-mast at Government buildings and other locations across the country as a mark of respect.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson was among the mourners. He said: "It was incredibly moving when her coffin arrived in St Paul's being carried by service personnel.

"I couldn't help thinking how brave her granddaughter was to speak in front of so many people at such an emotional time for her family.

"What was most moving for me was that when her coffin left the church those of us inside could hear a great cheer coming from outside, which showed that so many people thought a great deal of her."