Today, on the national day of mourning, France said goodbye to its late former president Jacques Chirac with military honors, whose shadows were bowed to by dozens of current and former world leaders gathered in Paris.
The host of the ceremony was the current president Emmanuel Macron.
The military band played the national anthem "The Marseillaise", and Macron conducted a guard review.
Chirac's coffin, covered with the French tricolor, was then brought to the middle of the cobbled courtyard.
Macron, who did not speak, later attended the final service at the Saint-Sulpice church in central Paris, along with members of Chirac's family, French politicians and foreign dignitaries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US President Bill Clinton and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
British Queen Elizabeth II (93) did not arrive in the capital of France, but sent her condolences to the Chirac family and "the people of France".
When, according to French custom, he was greeted with applause, the casket with Chirac's body was brought to Saint-Sulpice, and the pianist Daniel Barenboam played Schubert's "Emprompti", while mourners and guests walked in cortege on both sides of the path of the funeral procession.
Frenchwoman Nathalie Kabongo, whose husband worked with Chirac, said that he led a "policy closer to the people", that, "in addition to being a president, he was also a man... a warm man, a man close to people, smiling and with a heart ".
As the flag-draped casket was carried, citizens took photos, some in tears, and one banner read "Thank you for saying 'No!' war in Iraq".
A private family church service was held prior to military honors and a private interment followed at Montparnasse Cemetery.
A minute of silence was held in schools and public services in France.
Thousands of kilometers from Paris, the French rugby players at the World Cup in Japan joined in the minute of silence.
Chirac was one of the main "pillars" of French politics for four decades, mayor of Paris, deputy, prime minister and president of France from 1995 to 2007.
As the last French head of state to serve two terms, Chirac died last Sunday at the age of 86.
Known for upholding the nation's sense of greatness and opposing the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, Chirac is fondly remembered by citizens despite his political failures and a 2011 corruption conviction for tort during his nearly two decades as mayor of Paris.
As president from 1995-2007. he was a wholehearted diplomat, but he failed to reform the French economy or ease tensions between the police and ethnic minority youth, which exploded in riots across France in 2005.
Once called the "Super Liar", Chirac gained popularity suddenly after leaving political office.
Thousands of citizens paid their respects to him on Sunday at the Palace of the Invalids, ahead of the commemoration.
"He was a great man of absolutely fantastic class in all circumstances," said Nadine Prevost, who was among the mourners at Saint Sulpice.
"He knew how to talk to everyone, with simplicity and greatness. And that was the wealth in contacts with him".
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who enjoyed a close, working relationship with Chirac, was on the guest list released by French President Macron's Elysee Palace, but did not attend the service in Saint-Sulpice.
Macron's press service did not give a reason for his absence.
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