George HW Bush's family visit Capitol rotunda to thank mourners for paying tribute to late president

Former US President George W Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush visit the casket containing the body of former US President George HW Bush in the Rotunda of the US Capitol
EPA

George HW Bush’s family made a surprise visit to Washington’s Capitol Rotunda where mourners were paying their respects to the late US president.

The Bushes, including former president George W Bush, shook hands with visitors who had lined up to honour the family patriarch, who died aged 94 on Friday.

George W and Laura Bush entered first and the former president put his hand on the flag-draped casket holding the remains of his father on Tuesday night.

Their twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, followed, while Jeb Bush and his wife joined along with about a dozen other members of the Bush family.

Former US President George W Bush greets members of the public paying respect to his late father
EPA

Long lines of mourners wound through the hushed Rotunda to view the casket and remember a president whose legacy included World War military service and a landmark law affirming the rights of the disabled.

Mr Bush's service dog, Sully, was also brought to the rotunda. His main service these last months since Barbara Bush's death in April had been to rest his head on her husband's lap.

George W. Bush (R) holds up a toddler while greeting members of the public are paying their respects to his father
EPA

The CIA also honoured Mr Bush, the only spy chief to become president, as three agency directors past and present joined the public in the viewing.

In the midst of the period of mourning, first lady Melania Trump gave Laura Bush, one of her predecessors, a tour of holiday decorations at the White House.

In a message on his Instagram account, Mr Bush described it as a "sweet visit during this sombre week".

The Trumps also visited members of the Bush family at the Blair House presidential guesthouse, where they are staying. The former president and former first lady greeted the current officeholders outside before everyone went in for the private, 20-minute visit.

Although Mr Trump will attend Mr Bush's national funeral service on Wednesday, he is not among the eulogists announced by the Mr Bush family, which includes George W Bush.

After services in Washington, 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.

George Bush Snr

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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 aged three.

Mr Trump has ordered the federal government to be closed on Wednesday for a national day of mourning, while flags on public buildings are flying at half-staff for 30 days.

Mr Bush's death reduces membership in the ex-presidents' club to four: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama.

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