British Reaction To Baroness Thatcher’s Death

Despite Thatcher’s controversial policies and stance, Britain is in mourning for one of its most memorable Prime Ministers.

A Tweet from the British Monarchy’s Twitter account said, Her Majesty The Queen The Queen “was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. HM will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family”

The British Flag now flies at half-mast above Buckingham Palace and above 10 Downing Street as a mark of respect to Britain’s first female Prime Minister.

Flag flies at half-mast above Buckingham Palace – Photo Credit: @SteveChauffeur on Twitter

The British flag has only flown above Buckingham Palace since 1997, when The Queen is not in residence. In 1997, there was public outcry for a flag to be flown at half-mast for the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Royal Standard can never be flown at half-mast as the ‘Sovereign’ never dies (the new one immediately succeeds them), the solution was to fly the British flag above the Palace, and it has flown there when the Queen is not in residence ever since. Today it was flown at half-mast for the late Baroness Thatcher.

A ceremonial funeral ‘with full military honours’ will be taking place for Margaret Thatcher. A state funeral requires a motion in Parliament, a ceremonial funeral (which was afforded to Diana, Princess of Wales and the Queen Mother) does not. The only difference is that the gun carriage which pulls the coffin is pulled, in a state funeral by Sailors from the Royal Navy; in a Ceremonial funeral, the coffin is carried by horses. This is because at Queen Victoria’s [State] Funeral, the horses became restless and sailors had to step in to pull the gun carriage.

Unlike the late Diana, Princess of Wales and Queen Mother, Baroness Thatcher will not lie-in-state in Westminster at her own request.

Royal Central offers its condolences to the family of the late Baroness Thatcher and salute her enigmatic and memorable political career.