The Bush family arrived by motorcade at Joint Base Andrews, a US military facility in Maryland.

There was a departure ceremony at the base, including a 21-gun salute.

Bush Sr's casket was loaded on to the presidential jet Air Force One, re-purposed for the occasion as Special Air Mission 41.

A band played Hail to the Chief and the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's Goin' Home.

The Bush family are flying to Texas, where the former president will lie in overnight repose at St Martin’s Episcopal Church in the city of Houston.

His final resting place will be next to wife, Barbara Bush, on the family plot at the grounds of his presidential library on the campus of Texas A&M University in the city of College Station.

He'll be buried there tomorrow.

Image source, Getty Images

Whoever gets to hear their own funeral eulogy?

Former presidents, that’s who...

Bush Sr's coffin is borne by uniformed pall-bearers from the cathedral, as ceremonial troops stand to attention.

His casket is placed in the hearse, and the funeral service for former President George H W Bush officially ends.

The Bush family, following behind, are departing in the motorcade.

The casket will be taken to Joint Base Andrews and flown to Houston, Texas.

As the ceremony nears its end, the military guard returns to bear Bush Sr's casket down the main aisle of the National Cathedral.

The choir leads the crowd in a hymn as the Bush family follows behind.

This is the moment Bush Jr's grief overcomes him at the end of his eulogy.

Rev Canon Jan Naylor Cope of Washington National Cathedral said prayers "for our brother, George" after Tynan's song.

"You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our brother to the joys of heaven."

The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, who was celebrated for his rousing royal speech at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, just recited the Apostles' Creed.

Then Irish tenor Ronan Tynan once again sang for the crowd.

This time, it was a rendition of The Lord's Prayer.

Rev Levenson Jr concludes his homily by saying Bush Sr was "so ready" to go to heaven, and heaven was "so ready to receive him".

"If you want to honour him, and if you call yourself a daughter or son of God, then love God, love your neighbour. There's no greater mission on planet earth."

"My hunch is heaven - as perfect as it must be - just got a bit kinder and gentler, leaving behind that hole for you and me to fill."

Near the end of his emotional tribute to his father, Bush Jr 's voice briefly cracked with emotion.

His grief resonated with people watching the funeral.

Rev Levenson Jr described Bush Sr's final day, surrounded by those who loved him.

"Only days ago, I was humbled, along with members of the president's staff, his outstanding and loyal medical team, so many friends, Sully [the dog]. Loving members of his family, who called in, who spoke with him throughout the day, and, as our 43rd president just said: inspired his last words of love.

"It was a beautiful end. It was a beautiful beginning. For a moment, but for a moment only, that dear point of light of George H W Bush dimmed. But it now shines brighter than it ever before has."

Image source, Reuters

The 43rd president's eulogy for his father evoked laughter and emotion.

Reverend Russell Levenson Jr of Houston, Texas, the former president's home state, followed Bush Jr's eulogy with a homily.

"When death comes, as it does to us all, life is changed, not ended. The way we live our lives, the decisions we make, the service we render, matter."

He described Bush Sr as a "godly" man, grounded in a desire to serve.

"Never, not once, did I witness anything but care and concern for those around him," Rev Levenson Jr says.

"President Bush made my job so easy. A lesson from the Hebrew scripture reminds us that God is Light and the president reflected that light his whole life through."

Bush Jr's voice cracked with emotion as he concluded the final eulogy to his father.

"Through our tears, let us know the blessings of knowing and loving you. A great and noble man, the best father a son or daughter could have.

"And in our grief, let us smile knowing that dad is with [his daughter] Robin and holding mom's hand again."

"Dad, we’re going to miss you," he says.

Bush Jr double patted the coffin on his way back to his seat.

Image source, Getty Images

"He was born with just two settings: full throttle, then sleep."

But jokes aside, his son describes him as a patient and loving father.

When Bush Jr spoke to his father on his deathbed, he says he told him he loved him.

"I said, 'Dad I love you and you've been a wonderful father'. And the last words he would ever say on earth were: 'I love you too.'"

"To us, he was close to perfect."

Bush Jr says after his mother, Barbara Bush, passed away, all his father wanted was to "hold mom's hand again".

"He loved to laugh - especially at himself," his son says.

"He could tease and needle, but never out of malice. He placed great value on a good joke - that's why he chose [former Senator Alan] Simpson to speak," Bush Jr adds, and the crowd erupts in laughter.

"His grading system for the quality of the joke was classic George Bush. The rare 7s and 8s were considered huge winners, most of them off-colour."

"Dad could relate to people from all walks of life. He was an empathetic man. He valued character over pedigree, and he was no cynic. He looked for the good in each person and he usually found it."

Bush Jr said his father taught him public service was noble and necessary.

"He strongly believed it was important to give back to the community and country... he recognised serving others enriched the giver's soul."

Former President George W Bush, son of Bush Sr, began his tribute by talking about how well his father lived life.

"I once heard it is said of man that the idea is to die young as late as possible."

"At age 85, a favourite pastime of George HW Bush was firing up his boat, The Fidelity, and opening up the three 300-power engines to fly across the Atlantic with the Secret Service boats straining to keep up."

"At age 90, George H W Bush parachuted out of an aircraft and landed on the grounds of St Ann's [Church] by the sea in Kennebunkport, Maine."

The younger Bush added: "Mother liked to say he chose the location just in case the chute didn't open."

The booming voice of Ronan Tynan just filled the cathedral nave as he sang a rousing rendition of Last Full Measure of Devotion, backed by the choir and symphony.

The song describes those who died to serve a greater need of a nation.

You can read more about this Irish tenor here.