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George W Bush broke down in tears during an emotional tribute to his father today as America united in mourning for the former president's state funeral in Washington DC.

George HW Bush, who died on Friday aged 94, was described as a "noble man, the best father a son and daughter could have" by his son.

In a moving address to former presidents including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, he said: "Dad we will miss your decency and kind soul."

In tears, he told attendees at the National Cathedral: "In our grief, I just smile knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding mom's hand again."

Mr Bush said his father had showed him "what it means to be a president that serves with integrity."

State funeral of George HW Bush - In pictures 42 show all State funeral of George HW Bush - In pictures 1/42 The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard from the U.S. Capitol AP 2/42 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the State Funeral former President George H.W. Bush, at the National Cathedral AP 3/42 U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand with former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter in the front row at the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington Reuters 4/42 President Donald Trump shakes hands with former President Barack Obama during a State Funeral service for former President George H.W. Bush AP 5/42 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and former presidents, vice presidents, first ladies and spouses attend the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral December 05, 2018 in Washington, DC. A WWII combat veteran, Bush served as a member of Congress from Texas, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the CIA, vice president and 41st president of the United States. Getty Images 6/42 Former United States President George W. Bush (2L) greets Former United States President Barack Obama (C) as he arrives at the National Cathedral for the funeral services for former United States President George H. W. Bush, in Washington EPA 7/42 The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a military honor guard into a State Funeral at the National Cathedral AP 8/42 U.S. President Donald Trump with former President Barack Obama as he takes his seat in the first row along with former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter prior to the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington Reuters 9/42 The hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes by the White House from the Capitol, heading to a State Funeral at the National Cathedral AP 10/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 11/42 A joint services military honor guard carry the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush from the US Capitol, in Washington EPA 12/42 A joint service honor guard carries the casket of former US President George H.W. Bush Reuters 13/42 Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton look over at former U.S. President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama while seated with former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter (R) prior to the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington Reuters 14/42 (Front L-R)US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, former US President Barack Obama, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, former US President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and former US President Jimmy Carter sit before the funeral service for former US President George H. W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 15/42 Jordan's King Abdullah II(C)and Queen Rania arrive before the funeral service for former US President George H. W. Bush AFP/Getty Images 16/42 A U.S. military honor guard team carries the flag draped casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush from the U.S. Capitol Getty Images 17/42 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush Getty Images 18/42 A U.S. military honor guard team carries the flag draped casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush from the U.S. Capitol Reuters 19/42 People watch as the hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush heads to a State Funeral at the National Cathedral AP 20/42 An honor guard marches away after President George H.W. Bush's state funeral procession passed by the White House AP 21/42 Sully, former President George H.W. Bush's service dog, pays his respect to President Bush as he lie in state at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP 22/42 Members of the public file through the Capitol Rotunda to view the flag-draped casket of the late former President George H.W. Bush Getty Images 23/42 Former US first lady Laura Bush (L) and former US President George W. Bush (2nd L) greet US President Donald J. Trump (R) and first lady Melania Trump (2nd R) outside of Blair House in Washington, DC EPA 24/42 Mourners pay their respects in front of the casket of the late former President George H.W. Bush as he lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Getty Images 25/42 Former US President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush visit the casket containing the body of former US President George H.W. Bush in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC EPA 26/42 Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush put their hands on the casket of Former President George H. W. Bush as he lies in state in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC EPA 27/42 Visitors gather before a State Funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral EPA 28/42 Former Vice President Al Gore walks joins attendees at the state funeral Reuters 29/42 Prince Charles walks past U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as he arrives at the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush Reuters 30/42 Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is greeted by former British Prime Minister John Major prior to the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral Reuters 31/42 Former CIA Director John Brennan (L), shakes hands with President Donald Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly (R), before a State Funeral for former President George H.W. Bush EPA 32/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 33/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 34/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 35/42 Former US President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush watch as the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard at the US Capitol AFP/Getty Images 36/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 37/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 38/42 From right, former President George W. Bush, second from right, former first lady Laura Bush, Neil Bush, Sharon Bush, Bobby Koch, Doro Koch, Jeb Bush and Columba Bush stand just prior to a joint services military honor guard carrying the flag-draped casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush from the U.S. Capitol to transport it to Washington National Cathedral Getty Images 39/42 (R-L) Former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, Neil Bush, and Sharon Bush, stand as the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard EPA 40/42 Former Vice President Joe Biden (3-L), and his wife Jill Biden (L), speak with Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump (2-L), and her husband, President Donald Trump's White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner (4-L), as former Vice President Al Gore (2-R), speak to former President Jimmy Carter (R), and former first lady Rosalynn Carter (Bottom-C), before a State Funeral for former President George H.W. Bush EPA 41/42 The hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is driven away from the Capitol to a state funeral at the National Cathedral Getty Images 42/42 People line the street to see the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush motorcade to a State Funeral at the National Cathedral, AP 1/42 The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard from the U.S. Capitol AP 2/42 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the State Funeral former President George H.W. Bush, at the National Cathedral AP 3/42 U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand with former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter in the front row at the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington Reuters 4/42 President Donald Trump shakes hands with former President Barack Obama during a State Funeral service for former President George H.W. Bush AP 5/42 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and former presidents, vice presidents, first ladies and spouses attend the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral December 05, 2018 in Washington, DC. A WWII combat veteran, Bush served as a member of Congress from Texas, ambassador to the United Nations, director of the CIA, vice president and 41st president of the United States. Getty Images 6/42 Former United States President George W. Bush (2L) greets Former United States President Barack Obama (C) as he arrives at the National Cathedral for the funeral services for former United States President George H. W. Bush, in Washington EPA 7/42 The flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a military honor guard into a State Funeral at the National Cathedral AP 8/42 U.S. President Donald Trump with former President Barack Obama as he takes his seat in the first row along with former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter prior to the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington Reuters 9/42 The hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush passes by the White House from the Capitol, heading to a State Funeral at the National Cathedral AP 10/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 11/42 A joint services military honor guard carry the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush from the US Capitol, in Washington EPA 12/42 A joint service honor guard carries the casket of former US President George H.W. Bush Reuters 13/42 Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton look over at former U.S. President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama while seated with former President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter (R) prior to the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington Reuters 14/42 (Front L-R)US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, former US President Barack Obama, former US First Lady Michelle Obama, former US President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and former US President Jimmy Carter sit before the funeral service for former US President George H. W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC AFP/Getty Images 15/42 Jordan's King Abdullah II(C)and Queen Rania arrive before the funeral service for former US President George H. W. Bush AFP/Getty Images 16/42 A U.S. military honor guard team carries the flag draped casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush from the U.S. Capitol Getty Images 17/42 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for the state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush Getty Images 18/42 A U.S. military honor guard team carries the flag draped casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush from the U.S. Capitol Reuters 19/42 People watch as the hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush heads to a State Funeral at the National Cathedral AP 20/42 An honor guard marches away after President George H.W. Bush's state funeral procession passed by the White House AP 21/42 Sully, former President George H.W. Bush's service dog, pays his respect to President Bush as he lie in state at the U.S. Capitol in Washington AP 22/42 Members of the public file through the Capitol Rotunda to view the flag-draped casket of the late former President George H.W. Bush Getty Images 23/42 Former US first lady Laura Bush (L) and former US President George W. Bush (2nd L) greet US President Donald J. Trump (R) and first lady Melania Trump (2nd R) outside of Blair House in Washington, DC EPA 24/42 Mourners pay their respects in front of the casket of the late former President George H.W. Bush as he lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Getty Images 25/42 Former US President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush visit the casket containing the body of former US President George H.W. Bush in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC EPA 26/42 Former US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush put their hands on the casket of Former President George H. W. Bush as he lies in state in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC EPA 27/42 Visitors gather before a State Funeral for former President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral EPA 28/42 Former Vice President Al Gore walks joins attendees at the state funeral Reuters 29/42 Prince Charles walks past U.S. Vice President Mike Pence as he arrives at the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush Reuters 30/42 Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is greeted by former British Prime Minister John Major prior to the state funeral for former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Washington National Cathedral Reuters 31/42 Former CIA Director John Brennan (L), shakes hands with President Donald Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly (R), before a State Funeral for former President George H.W. Bush EPA 32/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 33/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 34/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 35/42 Former US President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush watch as the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard at the US Capitol AFP/Getty Images 36/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 37/42 The casket with the remains of former US President George H.W. Bush departs the US Capitol during a State Funeral in Washington AFP/Getty Images 38/42 From right, former President George W. Bush, second from right, former first lady Laura Bush, Neil Bush, Sharon Bush, Bobby Koch, Doro Koch, Jeb Bush and Columba Bush stand just prior to a joint services military honor guard carrying the flag-draped casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush from the U.S. Capitol to transport it to Washington National Cathedral Getty Images 39/42 (R-L) Former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, Neil Bush, and Sharon Bush, stand as the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is carried by a joint services military honor guard EPA 40/42 Former Vice President Joe Biden (3-L), and his wife Jill Biden (L), speak with Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump (2-L), and her husband, President Donald Trump's White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner (4-L), as former Vice President Al Gore (2-R), speak to former President Jimmy Carter (R), and former first lady Rosalynn Carter (Bottom-C), before a State Funeral for former President George H.W. Bush EPA 41/42 The hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush is driven away from the Capitol to a state funeral at the National Cathedral Getty Images 42/42 People line the street to see the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush motorcade to a State Funeral at the National Cathedral, AP

Foreign leaders, former presidents and members of American high office were united in mourning today at the funeral of 41st president George HW Bush.

Bush died on Friday aged 94, eight months after the death of his wife Barbara Bush.

Historian Jon Meacham said in his eulogy that Mr Bush was “the last great-soldier statesman,” describing him as “our shield” in dangerous times.

A military band played as the casket of the president was carried down the US Capitol steps in a solemn procession with members of the Bush family watching.

Prince Charles and Sir John Major were also in attendance at the memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.

George W Bush delivered a eulogy, along with former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

All surviving former US presidents were at the cathedral along with their wives.

Mr Trump was pictured shaking hands with Barack and Michelle Obama as Bill and Hillary Clinton looked on.

Prince Charles and Sir John Major were also in attendance along with leaders of Germany, Jordan, Australia and Poland.

Hundreds of people lined Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington to watch a hearse drive Bush's coffin from Capitol Hill, where he had lain in state since Monday night, toward the cathedral on Wednesday morning.

Thousands of people had filed past Bush's body to pay their respects in the Capitol Rotunda, some getting a chance to see Sully, a service dog who was Bush's friendly companion.

Sully became an internet sensation after being photographed lying next to his late master's coffin.

Mr Bush, who had been President Ronald Reagan's vice president, navigated the United States through the end of the Cold War and was president when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

He was dogged by domestic problems, including a sluggish economy, and faced criticism for not doing enough to stem the tens of thousands of deaths from the AIDS virus ravaging America.

When he ran for re-election in 1992, he was pilloried by Democrats and many Republicans for violating his famous 1988 campaign promise: "Read my lips, no new taxes." Democrat Bill Clinton coasted to victory.

The ceremony at Washington National Cathedral, the nexus of state funerals, ends three days of remembrance by dignitaries and ordinary citizens as they honour the Republican president who oversaw the post-Cold War transition and led a successful Gulf War, only to lose a re-election in a generational shift to Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992.

After the national funeral service at the cathedral, Mr Bush's remains will be returned to Houston to lie in repose at St Martin's Episcopal Church before burial on Thursday at his family plot on the presidential library grounds at Texas A&M University in College Station.

His final resting place will be alongside Barbara Bush, his wife of 73 years who died in April, and Robin Bush, the daughter they lost to leukaemia in 1953 at the age of three.

Mr Trump ordered the federal government closed on Wednesday for a national day of mourning. Flags on public buildings are flying at half-staff for 30 days.

Mr Bush's service dog Sully was taken to the coffin viewing - his main service in the months since Mrs Bush's death in April being to rest his head on her husband's lap.