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Queen to lead mourners at Thatcher funeral set for April 17

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher's funeral will be held on April 17, with Queen Elizabeth leading the mourners. Buckingham Palace confirmed the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, would attend, an unusual move as the queen does not usually attend services for non-royals.

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St Paul's Cathedral in central London. The funeral service of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher will be held at the cathedral on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher's funeral will be held on April 17, with Queen Elizabeth leading the mourners.

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Buckingham Palace confirmed the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, would attend, an unusual move as the queen does not usually attend services for non-royals.

Lawmakers have been recalled to parliament today to pay tribute to Thatcher, the longest serving prime minister of the 20th century.

A private ambulance with police motorcycle escort arrived early yesterday at the Ritz hotel in London, where Thatcher spent her last days, an AFP photographer said. Undertakers erected a screen at the back door before removing her body at 12.20am.

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Thatcher specifically did not want a full state funeral of the kind given to monarchs and to second world war prime minister Winston Churchill - who was the last non-royal to receive one - thinking it was "not appropriate", her spokesman, Lord Tim Bell, said. "And she didn't want a fly-past as she thought that was a waste of money - somewhat in character you might think."

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