Jeremy Clarkson among 2,000 at Thatcher funeral

Downing Street released information about the ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral as Lady Thatcher’s old political adversary Lord Kinnock revealed he would not be attending.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Nancy Reagan have also said health problems will prevent them attending next Wednesday - but Lord Heseltine will be there.

Number 10 said the guest list had been drawn up by Lady Thatcher’s family and representatives with the assistance of the Government and the Conservative Party.

More than 2,000 invitations are expected to be printed today and sent out tomorrow. Altogether 2,300 people are set to pack St Paul’s.

A spokeswoman said: “Those invited include family and friends of Lady Thatcher, those who worked with her over the years, including all surviving members of her Cabinets, former Chiefs of Staff, Conservative associates, peers and MPs, members of the Cabinet, peers and MPs, members of the Order of the Garter, members of the Order of Merit, foreign associates and dignitaries and representatives from the wide range of groups she was associated with.

“In agreement with Lady Thatcher’s representatives, around 200 states, territories and international organisations are being invited to send an official representative to the funeral service.

“We have invited those countries and institutions with whom we have normal diplomatic relations. In addition, there are invitations being made in a personal capacity to some current and former world leaders as well as others from overseas who had a close connection to Baroness Thatcher.”

According to Downing Street, confirmed guests so far include Tony Blair and wife Cherie, former South Africa leader FW de Klerk, and Lord Jeffrey Archer with wife Mary.

Singer Dame Shirley Bassey and composer Lord Lloyd-Webber are also due to attend the service, which will begin at 11am after Lady Thatcher’s body has travelled from Parliament with full military honours.

A representative of former South African president Nelson Mandela - whose ANC Lady Thatcher once described as a terrorist group - has been invited.

The dress code for the event gives guests the option of “Full Day Ceremonial without swords”, “Morning Dress (Black Waistcoat and Black Tie) / dark suit”, or “Day dress with Hat”.

It also specifies that “medals and decorations” may be worn.

The invitations will be colour coded depending on the importance of the guest. VIP versions are white with red or green stripes and recipients will be seated under the dome of the cathedral.

Other colours designate different areas of seating.

Lord Kinnock’s office said he had already accepted an invitation to a service on Wednesday for a friend who died shortly before Lady Thatcher.

“He will not be attending because a councillor in his old constituency died a few days before Lady Thatcher,” a spokeswoman said. “He promised he would got to the funeral. He will be in Wales.”

Lord Heseltine, who effectively forced Lady Thatcher out of office by mounting a leadership challenge in 1990, will be attending with his wife, according to his office.

Meanwhile, David Cameron has described some reaction to Lady Thatcher’s death as “pretty distasteful”.

The Prime Minister said he thought the majority of national feeling was to grieve for the loss of a great leader, but conceded that sections of society did not agree.

Speaking on a visit to Derby as campaigning got back under way ahead of key local elections next month, Mr Cameron said: “I think the overwhelming sense across the country, and you can see it yesterday in the House of Commons, is that we are mourning the loss of someone who gave a huge amount to this country, that was an extraordinary leader.

“I think that is how the overwhelming majority of people feel.

“Of course, some people won’t agree with that but I think that some of the scenes we have seen are frankly pretty distasteful, but people should be responsible for themselves.”

Labour confirmed that it had resumed political campaigning after a pause to show respect for Lady Thatcher.

Argentina’s president Cristina Kirchner has not been invited to Lady Thatcher’s funeral, according to Downing Street.

However, the country’s ambassador to the UK has been asked to attend.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said the protocol was that a representative would be invited from every state with which Britain had normal diplomatic relations.

“This is in keeping with diplomatic protocol for occasions like this,” she added.

Mr Cameron defended the decision to recall Parliament, even though MPs were due to return to Westminster on Monday.

“I thought it brought the Parliament together, it brought out the best in Parliament and I think it was part of a fitting send-off to our first ever woman prime minister,” he told Sky News’s Boulton & Co programme.

Asked about reports that Speaker John Bercow had been taken aback by the request to bring back MPs, he said: “The request was made and the Speaker granted it and that’s why Parliament was recalled.”

Mr Cameron also said he believed it was right that Lady Thatcher was being given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours.

“I think it is right to have a ceremonial funeral, with key elements of a state funeral, with the troops lining the route,” he said.

“I think people would find us a pretty extraordinary country if we didn’t properly commemorate with dignity, with seriousness, but with also some fanfare ... the passing of this extraordinary woman.

“I think not only in Britain would people say ‘you are not doing this properly’, but I think the rest of the world think we were completely wrong.”