Thatcher mourns Sir Denis

Baroness Thatcher, head bowed and looking frail, arrived at the chapel of The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, today for the funeral of her husband Sir Denis.

The former Prime Minister stood at the entrance to the chapel flanked by her children, Mark and Carol, as the coffin, draped in the Union flag and covered with red roses, was carried inside by pall-bearers.

Both Mark and Carol put protective arms around Lady Thatcher's waist as they slowly entered the chapel behind the coffin.

Sir Denis, 88, died on June 26 at the Lister Hospital, central London, after a short illness.

He had undergone a six-hour heart bypass operation in January from which he appeared to have recovered before falling ill again last month.

The funeral, conducted by the chaplain of the Royal Hospital, the Rev Richard Whittington, was private and was to be followed by cremation.

There were 120 mourners including Sir Denis's old friend, Lord Deedes, 90.

There were some members of Lady Thatcher's former Cabinet there, including Lord Parkinson and Lord Wakeham, as well as the former Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler and her Downing Street press secretary, Sir Bernard Ingham.

Sir Denis had served in the Royal Artillery and the Last Post was being sounded
by Royal Artillery bugler Lance Bombardier Martin Hilton.