John Howard to represent Australia at Thatcher's funeral

FORMER prime minister John Howard will represent Australia at the funeral of Margaret Thatcher in London next week.

Baroness Thatcher, Britain's first and only female prime minister, died this week.

She was 87.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Mr Howard had accepted her invitation to represent Australia at the ceremonial funeral in St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday.

"I decided to do that because out of the former Australian prime ministers I think he is the one with the deepest connection to Margaret Thatcher and so it was the appropriate thing for him to represent the nation at the funeral," Ms Gillard said.