Pallbearers carry the coffin of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher as it arrives at the Palace of Westminster in London April 16, 2013. Thatcher, who was conservative prime minister between 1979 and 1990, died on April 8 at the age of 87.

Downing Street announced that Britain's first female prime minister would receive a ceremonial funeral, with gun carriage, military procession and a service at St Paul's Cathedral, in the style of the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Queen Mother. (Source: Guardian.co.uk)

英國首相府宣布，將為英國首位女首相舉行“禮儀葬禮”，包括皇家乘騎炮兵部隊的炮車，軍隊列隊行進以及圣保羅大教堂的儀式，規格與英國已故王太后和戴安娜王妃的葬禮相同。

Ceremonial funeral（禮儀葬禮）一般來說只有王室家族的高層成員（senior members of the royal family）才能享受，而且舉辦禮儀葬禮需得到女王的首肯（the consent of the Queen）；而國葬（state funeral）則多為王室君主（sovereign as head of state）舉行，舉行國葬需要先在議會投票表決（motion or vote in Parliament）。禮儀葬禮比國葬要低一級，不過兩種葬禮通常都包括遺體告別儀式（lying in state）以及在威斯敏斯特教堂或圣保羅大教堂舉行的葬禮儀式（Westminster Abbey service or a service at St Paul's Cathedral）。

英國此次為撒切爾夫人舉行的是帶有軍事榮譽的“禮儀葬禮”（a ceremonial funeral with military honours）。葬禮前一天，她的靈柩將被送至到國會大廈內的圣瑪麗教堂（Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster，home to Britain's Houses of Parliament），葬禮當天，靈柩將由靈車（hearse）送至圣克萊蒙•戴恩斯教堂，之后被放至皇家乘騎炮兵部隊的炮車（gun carriage）由皇家乘騎炮兵部隊（King's Troop Royal Artillery）引領沿街列隊行進，沿途會有三軍士兵（tri-service military personnel）和普通民眾瞻仰并表達哀思，最后到達圣保羅大教堂進行葬禮儀式（funeral service）。葬禮第二天，將會進行私人火化儀式（private cremation）。