KATHERINE Jenkins was one of the first to arrive for the funeral of Margaret
Thatcher this morning.
Wearing a tailored black coat and chic netted hat, she waited patiently to
enter St Paul’s for the 11am service.
She was joined by a host of famous faces from the worlds of showbiz and
politics.
Her Majesty The Queen stayed warm on the grey morning in a black wool coat and
hat.
She wore pearls at her throat and a jewel brooch at her lapel as she and the
Duke of Edinburgh made their way to the front of the cathedral.
Prime Minister David Cameron arrived with wife Samantha shortly before the
service.
Mrs Cameron added a rare splash of colour to the occasion in a camel pussybow
blouse.
She teamed the 1980s style with a black pencil skirt and overcoat.
Also looking chic was Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and his wife, Miriam.
Mrs Clegg chose a long-sleeved dress with a neat gold banded waist and a small
silver brooch.
She too chose a low-key netted hat, worn to the side of her head.
Sun columnist Jeremy Clarkson was up next with his daughter Emily, 18.
Eyes downcast, they were joined by Baron Lloyd-Webber, who followed closely
behind them.
Perhaps the most unusual sight was that of Tony Blair appearing to arrive with
John Major.
As wives Cherie and Norma strode ahead, the two former Prime Ministers walked
shoulder to shoulder.
And at one point Blair seemed to offer directions to the ex-Tory PM. Would
that be Centre Left, Tony?
The figurehead of New Labour was seated next to fellow ex-PM Gordon Brown,
there with wife, Sarah, for the service.
Mrs Brown wore an elegant suit, wedges and pillbox hat for the occasion.
Mrs Thatcher’s own family put on a brave face despite their sadness.
Son Mark dressed in a morning suit as he accompanied wife, Sarah, to St Paul’s
from his mother’s London home.
The glamorous blonde wore a netted hat and pearls with a silk and satin frock
coat.
Mark’s twin sister, Carol, left the house in a smart coat with velvet lapels
and a bowed velvet hat.
Back in the City, London Mayor Boris Johnson risked a wave to the thousands of
onlookers who’d come to pay their respects.
He shielded his famous blond locks from the April drizzle with an umbrella.
The Duchess of York arrived in a frock coat buttoned high up the neck.
Flashing her signature auburn hair, she wore a small black hat perched on the
crown of her head.
Also hard to miss was actress Joan Collins, who wore a belted jacket and
trilby with Chanel accessories.
Fellow 80s icon Sir Terry Wogan attended without wife, Helen.
The chat show host came in a bespoke suit with an overcoat over his arm.
Falklands hero Simon Weston also came to pay his respects.
The former Welsh Guard – badly burned in the 1982 conflict – had yesterday
called for a “dignified” response to the funeral.
Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband chose a morning suit for the occasion.
His wife, Justine, kept the wet weather at bay with a simple raincoat, teamed
with black hat and gloves.
The affair was a largely Tory affair with members of the Conservative Party
both old and young coming to say farewell.
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne looked sombre with wife, Frances.
And former Thatcher protegee William Hague took time out from planning this
year’s G8 summit to attend with wife, Ffion.
Mrs Hague chose a wide-lapelled coat with 1940s-style accessories.
Former colleagues of Maggie’s thronged the steps of the cathedral, including
ex-ministers John Selwyn Gummer and Cecil Parkinson who lightened the solemn
occasion with a smile.
Jeffrey Archer, Virginia Bottomley and Michael Heseltine had also travelled to
celebrate the life of the Tory icon.
But former Home Secretary Douglas Hurd and Mrs Thatcher’s former press
secretary Sir Bernard Ingham looked frail as they walked with the aid of a
stick.
Of course, members from all political parties came out of respect for
Britain’s first female PM.
Liberal Democrat leaders David Owen and David Steel arrived together.
