Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, reporting from Washington National Cathedral

Jimmy Carter’s casket was carried into the cathedral by a full military honour guard. That is standard practice for state funerals and deceased presidents. Carter was one of a dying breed, however - American presidents who served in the US military at some point in their lives.

Carter attended university at the US Naval Academy and served on active duty in the US nuclear submarine fleet from 1946 to 1953. Of the remaining current and former living US presidents, only one - George W Bush - has any military experience.

He spent six years in the Texas Air National Guard, stationed in the US during the height of the Vietnam War, from 1968 to 1974.

Several presidential nominees this century - Al Gore in 2000, John Kerry in 2004 and John McCain in 2008 - had wartime military service. None would win the presidency, however. And there has been no major-party presidential nominee with military service since.

Image source, Getty Images

The first to speak at President Carter's funeral is his grandson, Joshua Carter.

Joshua recalled how his grandfather was committed to teaching Sunday School at his home of Plains, Georgia throughout his life.

"He taught the Bible every Sunday from World War II to Covid," he said, adding: "Every time I went to church with him, it was packed."

He says the church was often filled with people from around the world, with different backgrounds and beliefs.

His grandfather, he adds, often began his Sunday School teachings by talking about his week - illustrating the remarkable life he led.

"If he monitored an election, he'd talk about it. If he stopped a conflict, he'd talk about it. If he eliminated a disease from a village or a country, he'd talk about it," Joshua says. "When my brother Jeremy died, he announced that news in Sunday School."

As we hear a bible reading, the casket - draped in the stars and stripes - is carried and placed on a stand at the front of the National Cathedral.

We then have a prayer, led by the Dean of the Washington National Cathedral.

Image source, Getty Images

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

Image source, Reuters

There is a great deal of irony today. President Carter, the humble peanut farm owner, was not a fan of the type of ceremony that has been on display in Georgia and in Washington.

He has received the ritualistic treatment all presidents get after their deaths: the Air Force ride, a military honour guard carrying his flag-draped casket up the Capitol steps, and then lying in state on the Lincoln catafalque in the Rotunda.

This was a man who was seen as an outsider by Washington society. They bristled at the way he would carry his own luggage, how he wanted to stop the Marine Band from playing Hail to the Chief and also when he sold the presidential yacht - all to have a less extravagant presidency.

Nearly 44 years after Jimmy Carter left the nation’s capital in humbling defeat, this city's once famous resident returns for a final time, to receive the sort of pomp he often rejected.

Image source, FCDO

British military staff have been paying their respects to former US President Jimmy Carter during the funeral procession in front of the British Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue.

The National Cathedral was silent as it awaited the arrival of Jimmy Carter's casket.

Now, as the procession makes its way inside, the cathedral choir sings a hymn, The Road Home.

Image source, Getty Images

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent reporting from Washington National Cathedral

Before this hymn began, it was silent here inside the cathedral as we wait for Jimmy Carter’s casket to enter.

But the winter wind outside is so strong, it’s making a haunting howl that is quite audible.

President Jimmy Carter's casket is now being carried into the National Cathedral.

Carter's family have already made their way into the church, and the former president's casket is being brought inside to music performed by the US Coast Guard Band.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, reporting from Washington National Cathedral

Image source, Getty Images

Although all the focus at the moment is on the current and former presidents in attendance at this memorial service, there was an interesting moment between Donald Trump and a current and a former vice-president.

When Trump entered, he shook hands with his former Vice-President Mike Pence. The two men have had strained relations since the end of Trump’s presidency, when Pence presided over the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential win despite pressure from Trump not to do so.

Pence ran against Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and declined to endorse him when he won.

Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, are also seated in the front of the cathedral. She and Trump, who competed in the recently concluded 2024 general election, did not shake hands.

Former US President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton are in attendance at the state funeral, sitting next to former President George W Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush.

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent reporting from Washington National Cathedral

Image source, Reuters

There is something very powerful about a state funeral like this – where all the living presidents gather. It’s like watching the pages of an American history book flutter in the wind.

As each former president walked to take their seats, the nation travelled back in time.

Donald and Melania Trump, Barack Obama, Laura and George W Bush and Bill and Hillary Clinton – 28 years of the American presidency on display.

The signs of age – of greying hair and deepening wrinkles – show on many of their faces.

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff have also arrived at the National Cathedral.

They're sat on the front row, just ahead of Barack Obama and Donald and Melania Trump.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Guests are arriving at the National Cathedral, and moments ago, Donald Trump shook hands with his former vice-president Mike Pence.

Pence and Trump have been at odds since 6 January 2021, when hundreds of people protesting against the result of the 2020 US presidential election broke into Congress. Pence had to be rushed away and US lawmakers hid as rioters swarmed through the building

Pence went on to criticise Trump during the president-elect's campaign last year, criticising him of being unfaithful to the US constitution.

Former President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump have taken their seats in the cathedral.

The pair have exchanged a few words and taken a look through the programme for the service.

Iona Hampson
Reporting from Washington National Cathedral

On a freezing day in Washington, Jimmy Carter's casket stands in front of members of the press outside the National Cathedral.

There's silence until the service starts. All you can hear is the bitter wind.

Several international and US political VIPs are attending Jimmy Carter's funeral, including Vice-President-elect JD Vance and his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance, former Vice President Al Gore.

Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan, top House leaders Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are also among the congregation.

Some have already taken their seats in the cathedral.

Image source, Gett

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Jimmy Carter's casket, accompanied by his family, have just arrived at the National Cathedral.

Inside, hymns are being performed by the US Marine orchestra and Armed Forces chorus, while mourners await the start of the service.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent, reporting from Washington National Cathedral

The cathedral is filling up, and the attendees have been told to take their seats.

The organ and piano music has been replaced by booming orchestral chords.

Various dignitaries and politicians are still chatting, however - like a sombre black-suit-and-dress Washington cocktail party.

As Jimmy Carter's casket makes its way from the US Capitol to the National Cathedral, mourners are beginning to gather ahead of his state funeral service.

You can see some images from inside the cathedral below:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Carter is now being driven by motorcade to the Washington National Cathedral - about a 15 minute journey - where his state funeral is to take place.

The route is taking the cortege past some of the set-up for incoming President Donald Trump's inauguration, which will take place on 20 January.

President Joe Biden and President-elect Trump are both expected to attend today's service.