Family, colleagues pay their respects to Margaret Thatcher

Family, friends and close political colleagues of Baroness Thatcher paid their respects to the former Prime Minister in a private service in the Palace of Westminster today, as she made her final visit to the scene of so many battles and triumphs. Daughter Carol had tears in her eyes following the brief but emotional service in the crypt chapel of St Mary Undercroft, ahead of tomorrow's ceremonial funeral at St Paul's Cathedral. Around 150 guests, also including son Sir Mark Thatcher and several members of Lady Thatcher's government, filed past her coffin, many pausing to bow in respect to the UK's first female Prime Minister, who died last week at the age of 87. 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". As Carol Thatcher left the chapel following the 15-minute service, she paused to wipe away tears before descending the staircase into Westminster Hall. Brother Mark patted her back to comfort her while they walked away, surrounded by family, close friends and senior political figures. The simple service of reception of the body, led by the Dean of Westminster the...