George HW Bush funeral: Former president flown to Texas after moving eulogies at National Cathedral
Follow latest updates as mourners arrive to pay tribute to the former president
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George HW Bush, the 41st president of the United States, is being honoured in a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral today following three days of mourning in which his body lay in state at the Capitol Rotunda.
The Texas Republican, an ex-oil executive who served in the Oval Office between 1988 and 1992 having previously been Ronald Reagan's vice-president and CIA director, oversaw the post-Cold War transition and led a successful Gulf War in Iraq.
The four living ex-presidents - Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Bush's son George W Bush and Barack Obama - are in attendance at the service, with George W Bush giving an emotional eulogy where he called his father "wonderful".
Current President Donald Trump sat in the front row with the Obamas, Clintons and Mr Carter.
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Over the course of two days in which George HW Bush laid in state at the US Capitol, more than 50,000 people visited the building to pay their respects to the former president.
Reports indicate nearly 57,000 visited during the occasion, including staff and visitors.
As Donald Trump joins former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at George HW Bush’s funeral, sources have told NBC News’ Peter Alexander and Monica Alba the president has not spoken with either since his 2017 inauguration.
His wife, Melania Trump, spoke with the former first family at Barbara Bush’s memorial earlier this year, posing for photographs also alongside the Obamas. Mr Trump did not attend that event, with the White House saying his absence was “to avoid disruptions due to added security.”
George HW Bush’s casket is set to depart the US Capitol at any moment, as a military honour guard lines the staircase for the occasion. The former president has lain in state for two days in Washington before his memorial continues in at the National Cathedral.
George HW Bush’s motorcade has begun making its way to the National Cathedral.
His procession will first pass the White House and the US Naval Observatory, two landmarks in the former president’s life and career.
Nearly 3,000 people are in attendance at the National Cathedral for George HW Bush’s funeral services, with every living president and world leaders making their way to the nation’s capitol for the historic occasion.
Among those in the crowd include Prince Charles and former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who were seen greeting each other Wednesday morning.
Also in attendance at Wednesday’s funeral services for George HW Bush include Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City and current legal counsel to Donald Trump.
Mr Giuliani was seen entering the National Cathedral on Wednesday morning, where a reported 3,000 people are in attendance for the historic occasion.
The Bush family held back tears as George HW Bush’s casket went down the steps of the US Capitol on Wednesday towards the National Cathedral in Washington.
“Hail the Chief” played as the funeral procession made its way headed to pass the White House and US Naval Observatory, before arriving to the Cathedral.
As mourners await George HW Bush’s casket to arrive at the National Cathedral in Washington, former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter have taken their seats alongside former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former first ladies Michelle Obama and Rosalynn Carter.
Meanwhile, the presidential motorcade has just passed the White House, honouring the former president’s service before travelling to the US Naval Observatory where he used to live during his career and tenure serving his country.
Donald Trump has arrived to "president's row" alongside every living former president for George HW Bush's funeral services. The president and his wife Melania Trump greeted the Obamas with handshakes, though he appeared to avoid making eye contact with the Clintons, taking his seat and looking forward.
The Clintons appeared to do the same, not offering a handshake to the president or his wife, instead looking forward the entire time.
The presidential hearse has arrived at the National Cathedral, where nearly 3,000 people are reportedly mourning George HW Bush before his casket travels to Texas for further funeral proceedings in his home state.
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