Britain will hold a significant “ceremonial funeral” for deceased former prime minister Margaret Thatcher next Wednesday, with more than 2000 current and former heads of state, politicians and leaders invited to the St Paul’s Cathedral event including a number of prominent women.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced this morning that Australia will be represented by former prime minister John Howard at the ceremony.
Queen Elizabeth will also attend, as well as former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US first lady Michelle Obama are also expected, but their attendance has not yet been confirmed.
Cherie Blair, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lady Lloyd Webber and Lady Archer have all confirmed they will be attending. Nancy Reagan, the widow of Thatcher’s greatest American ally and friend Ronald Reagan is 91, and will not be able to make the trip.
One notable female national leader affected by Thatcher-era Britain has not been invited: Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Fernandez recently began a campaign to renegotiate the Falkland Island’s sovereignty.
The Falkland Island’s war with Argentina in 1982 was a turning point for Thatcher’s waning popularity. The patriotism generated by the event led to a landslide re-election of Thatcher in 1983.
A government official told Reuters that while Britain enjoys normal diplomatic relations with Argentina, Thatcher’s children Mark and Carol were uncomfortable with anyone from Argentina being present.
The legacy of Baroness Thatcher’s polarising leadership and the spate of chaotic and violent “celebrations” sparked by her death have created some concern about unrest at the funeral. Police Commander Christine Jones is heading up the security operation has confirmed police are monitoring social media sites and are preparing rapid response units for deployment during the funeral if required.