Earlyface

Elaborate funeral plans have been set in
motion in South Africa following the death
of the country’s revered first black president
Nelson Mandela.
The 12-day state memorial is expected to be
an unparalleled event in South Africa’s
history, drawing a plethora of foreign
dignitaries of every stripe, royals and a
smattering of celebrities.
South African President Jacob Zuma ordered
the nation's flags to be flown at half-mast
beginning Friday and to remain that way
until after Mandela's funeral, which is
expected to be held next Saturday.
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Iconic funeral: Anti-apartheid icon
Nelson Mandela will lie in state for
several days next week before a
massive funeral service that will
draw numerous heads of state and
celebrities
Iconic funeral: Anti-apartheid hero Nelson
Mandela will lie in state for several days next
week before a massive funeral service that
will draw numerous heads of state and
celebrities
The public will have a chance to say
goodbye to their beloved father
figure during a memorial service at
the Johannesburg soccer stadium
(above) that hosted the 2010 World
Cup
The public will have a chance to say
goodbye to their beloved father figure
during a memorial service at the
Johannesburg soccer stadium (above) that
hosted the 2010 World Cup
Fitting location: Mandela's body is
expected to lie in state in the Union
Buildings in Pretoria (above) where
he was inaugurated as President
Fitting location: Mandela's body is expected
to lie in state in the Union Buildings in
Pretoria (above) where he was inaugurated
as President
Soldiers guard Mandela's home in
Qunu, where on Friday or Saturday
of next week, he will be laid to rest
in accordance with his final wishes
Soldiers guard Mandela's home in Qunu,
where on Friday or Saturday of next week,
he will be laid to rest in accordance with his
final wishes
Desmond Tutu, a long-time friend of Mr
Mandela and former archbishop of Cape
Town is expected to hold the service, which
will be attended by all living US presidents,
past and present.
The White House said last night that
President Barack Obama is expected to
travel to South Africa to bid farewell to
Mandela along with numerous other world
leaders.
Counting himself among the millions
influenced by Nelson Mandela, President
Obama mourned the death of the anti-
apartheid hero with whom he shares the
distinction of being his nation's first black
president.
'He no longer belongs to us. He belongs to
the ages,' Obama said in a somber
appearance at the White House.
Several celebrities who had personal ties to
the late great leader, such as Oprah Winfrey
and U2 frontman Bono, are also expected to
attend the service.
Guest of honor: White House
announced tonight that President
Obama will travel to South Africa to
bid farewell to Mandela
Guest of honor: White House announced
tonight that President Obama will travel to
South Africa to bid farewell to Mandela
Former President Bill Clinton,
pictured here with Mandela in
2007, is expected to make an
appearance at the state funeral
In honour: Following the announcement of
the death of Mandela, former President Bill
Clinton, who is set to attend the state
funeral, tweeted this 2007 picture
captioned: 'I will never forget my friend
Madiba'
FUNERAL GUEST LIST A TESTAMENT TO
MANDELA'S UNIFYING FORCE
Nelson Mandela's unifying force will be
evident in the guest list at his funeral which
will include black and white world leaders,
TV stars and musicians.
U.S. President Barack Obama, First Lady
Michelle and their daughters will be joined
by all past living U.S. presidents, including Bill
Clinton, who knew Mr Mandela well.
Several celebrities who had personal ties to
the late great leader, such as Oprah Winfrey
and U2 frontman Bono, are also expected to
attend the service.
Desmond Tutu, a long-time friend of Mr
Mandela and former archbishop of Cape
Town is expected to hold the service.
The preparations for the nearly two-week-
long affair are expected to bring the country
of 53 million to a virtual standstill.
The sheer number of dignitaries, including
numerous heads of state, is sure to spell a
logistical nightmare for the South African
government, which will be tasked with
providing air-tight security during the
solemn event.
In the next three or four days, Mandela's
body will be taken to a military hospital,
where it will be embalmed, CNN reported.
The public will have a chance to say
goodbye to their beloved father figure
during a memorial service at the
Johannesburg soccer stadium that hosted
the 2010 World Cup.
Following the memorial, Mandela’s remains
will be placed in a glass-topped casket
under a dome in Pretoria close to the spot
where he was sworn in as South Africa's
first democratically elected president in
1994.
Mr Mandela is expected the lie in state for
several days ahead of his burial.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton, who met with
then-94-year-old Mandela last
August, will also journey to South
Africa
Joining: Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Rodham Clinton, eho met with then-94-year-
old Mandela last August, will also journey to
South Africa
Representing Britain: Prime
Minister David Cameron and his
wife Samantha, seen with Mandela
at a photoshoot for his 90th
birthday in London, will pay their
respects
Representing Britain: Prime Minister David
Cameron and his wife Samantha, seen with
Mandela at a photo shoot for his 90th
birthday in London, will pay their respects
All living former US leaders,
including George W. Bush, pictured
meeting Mandela in 2001, have
been invited
Giving thanks: All living former US leaders,
including George W. Bush, pictured meeting
Mandela in 2001, have been invited
Royal representation: The British
Royal family, including the Queen
and the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge will fly to South Africa to
honour Mandela
Royal representation: The British Royal
family, including the Queen and the Duke
and Duchess of Cambridge will fly to South
Africa to honour Mandela
On Friday or Saturday next week, Mandela
will be flown to his rural hometown of Qunu
in the eastern Cape Province, where he will
be laid to rest in accordance with his final
wishes.
Mr Mandela often spoke with great love of
his first home where his family members,
including his children who predeceased
him, rest.
The family plot is located just a few yards
from the home he shared with his mother
as a child and the one which he built
following his release from Victor Verster
Prison.
He loved Qunu 'in the unconditional way a
child loves his first home' and spent holidays
and special occasions here.
Star-studded event: The memorial
service is expected to draw many
celebrities who had a personal
relationship with Mandela,
including Oprah Winfrey pictured
here in 2002
Star-studded event: The memorial service is
expected to draw many celebrities who had
a personal relationship with Mandela,
including Oprah Winfrey pictured here in
2002
Friends: U2 front man Bono, with
Mandela at his Johannesburg home
in 2002, is thought to have been
invited
Friends: U2 front man Bono, with Mandela at
his Johannesburg home in 2002, is thought
to have been invited
The protocol for the funeral preparations
was drawn up more than a year ago,
around the time when Mr Mandela's health
took a turn for the worse, and it may be
altered in the coming days.
Mourners will be able to share their
thoughts about Mandela’s passing in
condolence books that will be made
available in all foreign missions, the Nelson
Mandela Foundation headquarters and
other institutions, according to The
Guardian, which has obtained a copy of the
protocol.
It has also been reported that the South
African Government is in talks with the BBC
team that filmed the Royal Wedding in 2011
to get help with the world wide broadcast
of the funeral of a global icon.
Guests at the funeral will include Mr Obama,
the first lady and their daughters. Bill and
Hillary Clinton, who knew Mr Mandela well,
are also expected to make an appearance.
The scale and significance of the planned
funeral is already being compared to the
2005 service for Pope John Paul II, which
was attended by 2million people, among
them five kings and 70 presidents.