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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Your support makes all the difference.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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German Chancellor Angela Merkel is also in attendance at the historic event. She was seen greeting former Vice President Dan Quayle, and is among the 3,000 mourning the former president’s death.
George HW Bush is credited with helping reunify Germany and transitioning out of the Cold War.
The prayer was recited by Bishop Michael Curry, who officiated the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
George HW Bush's casket is making its way inside the National Cathedral after a short prayer outside and military honours. The casket is flocked by the commander of the Joint Force headquarters and other military officials.
The Bush family is also walking with the casket into the Cathedral, where they will take their place near the front of the processions.
George Bush greeted the former presidents and took his seat alongside the rest of the Bush family at the National Cathedral.
The Cathedral’s bells are now ringing as the roughly 3,000 attendees sit in silence to honour George HW Bush.
The former president's casket is now entering the Cathedral, following the Bush family and clergy.
George Bush appeared to give Michelle Obama a small item as the two greeted each other, with many speculating it could be a piece of candy. The two previously shared candy at the funeral processions for former Senator John McCain.
Bible verses are being read as the casket makes its way up the aisle flocked by military officials.
The funeral processions have begun with a hymn called “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven, and more scriptures read by Lauren Bush, George HW Bush’s granddaughter.
The current president did not appear to sing to the hymn.
Lauren Bush’s reading was followed by Ashley Walker Bush, another granddaughter of the former president.
The two granddaughters read from Isaiah 60:1-5 and 18-20.
Jon Meecham, a historian and author who has written about George HW Bush, began a reading by discussing a story about the former president when he was a young Naval pilot.
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