Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s Iron Lady, was laid to rest Wednesday with a level of pomp and protest reflecting her status as a commanding, polarizing political figure.
The woman nicknamed the Iron Lady transformed Britain during her 11-year tenure from 1979 to 1990, privatizing state industries, deregulating the economy, and causing upheaval whose impact is still felt. She died on April 8 at age 87.
Bishop of London Richard Chartres referred to the strong feelings the former prime minister still evokes 23 years after leaving office in his address to the 2,300 mourners at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
“The storm of conflicting opinions centres on the Mrs. Thatcher who became a symbolic figure — even an -ism,” he said. “Today the remains of the real Margaret Hilda Thatcher are here at her funeral service.”
“There is an important place for debating policies and legacy … but here and today is neither the time nor the place.”
More than 700 soldiers, sailors and air force personnel lined the route to the cathedral and around 4,000 police officers were on duty.
The ceremony was traditional, dignified and very British. Mourners entered to music by British composers including Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams, and the service featured hymns and readings chosen by Thatcher, who grew up as a grocer’s daughter in a hard-working Methodist household.
Thatcher’s 19-year-old granddaughter, Amanda Thatcher, read a passage from Ephesians: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.”
Before the service, Thatcher’s coffin was driven from the Houses of Parliament to the church of St. Clement Danes for prayers.
The casket — draped by the Union flag and covered in white roses — was carried up the steep steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral by members of the Armed Forces. The casket was borne on a gun carriage — from the First World War — drawn by six black horses of the Royal Horse Artillery to the cathedral.
An honour guard of soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats saluted the coffin as it approached the cathedral, while red-coated veterans known as Chelsea Pensioners stood to attention on the steps.
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip arrived last among the mourners inside the cathedral, who included dignitaries from around the world, 11 prime ministers and former U.S. Secretary of States Henry Kissinger and George Schultz.
World leaders and dignitaries from 170 countries — including Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper — attended the funeral. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney was also in attendance.
Flags on government buildings were lowered to half-staff across the country ahead of the service, but not all Britons were joining in the mourning.
This was designated as a ceremonial military funeral, rather than a state funeral, as requested by Baroness Thatcher.
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