Parliament has said farewell to Lady Thatcher for the last time.
The coffin rested overnight here, in a 14th century underground chapel, and from there it began its journey to St Paul’s.
But the real significance of the events at Westminster was what didn’t happen.
Big Ben did not chime – silenced in a mark of respect.
And MPs did not gather for Prime Minister’s Questions, much to the anger of those who believed democracy had been suspended for the day.
What would the Iron Lady have made of that? She enjoyed debating her opponents, throwing arguments and the odd insult across the chamber.
The coffin was driven through the Commons gates in a plain hearse and taken to St Clement Danes Church, near the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand, where it was transferred to a horse-drawn gun carriage.
The pomp began as the coffin made its way from the Strand to St Paul’s.
The marching band played and the bearer party, including representatives from the three armed forces, accompanied the coffin.
The pavements were full. We can only guess whether the onlookers were there because they had strong views for or against Lady Thatcher, or just wanted to witness an historic event.
The response was mixed – some booed, some cheered.
A few silently turned their backs.
But the overwhelming sound was that of simple, polite applause.
Sometimes, we were reminded what a bizarre country we live in.
When the Queen arrived at St Paul’s, she was led up the steps by the Lord Mayor of London holding a large sword aloft. This is known as the Mourning Sword, apparently.
A good number of West Midland MPs were there.
Birmingham’s sole Conservative MP, Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield), joined Caroline Spelman (Con Meriden), Chris Kelly (Con Dudley South), Margot James (Con Stourbridge), Michael Fabricant (Con Lichfield) and others, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Shirley Bassey and June Whitfield.
They heard a remarkable sermon from Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London.
After the Lord’s Prayer, and readings from David Cameron and Lady Thatcher’s granddaughter Amanda, he lightened the tone a little by recalling her remark to him over dinner (“don’t eat the duck pate – it’s very fattening”).
But his speech was also surprisingly political, even though he began by insisting it wasn’t his place to judge her politics.
Her remark that there was “no such thing as society”, the comment often held up by detractors as evidence of her callousness, had been misunderstood, he said.
Listening to the Bishop, we were reminded that Lady Thatcher was no superwoman and no monster – just a human being, fragile like the rest of us.
• Birmingham's official city flag was lowered to half-mast to mark Baroness Thatcher’s funeral.
And the occasion was marked by Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress John and Kathleen Lines who stood in silent reflection in Victoria Square.
Council bosses came under fire last week over their decision not to lower the flag on the announcement of Baroness Thatcher’s death.
