Margaret Thatcher Funeral: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Shirley Bassey and Katherine Jenkins Among Those in Attendance

Celebrities and world leaders join friends and family of the Iron Lady to pay respects to the U.K.'s former prime minister

By Peter Gicas Apr 17, 2013 2:27 PMTags
Sarah Thatcher, Mark ThatcherJohn Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images

Thousands gathered in London on Wednesday for the funeral of Margaret Thatcher.

The ceremony brought together world leaders, friends, family and a few celebrities including opera singer Katherine Jenkins, actor Michael Crawford, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and Shirley Bassey.

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, were also on hand.

The coffin containing the body of the former U.K. prime minister nicknamed the "Iron Lady" was borne on a gun carriage through the streets of London—with thousands of spectators lining the streets—to St. Paul's Cathedral, where the ceremony took place.

While protesters were expected, given what a polarizing figure Thatcher had been, the number was reportedly minimal near the church.

A private cremation and funeral were to follow.

Thatcher died on April 8 at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke.

She held the office of prime minister from 1979 to 1990.