Members of the armed services will line the route of Baroness Thatcher's funeral procession from the Palace of Westminster to St Paul's Cathedral, Downing Street said today.

In a statement, it was confirmed that Lady Thatcher would be given a ceremonial funeral with full military honours.

It is expected to take place next week but a date has not been confirmed.

Number 10 said a wide range of friends and colleagues would be invited to the service at St Paul's, which would be followed by a private cremation. The funeral itself will be televised.

The day before the funeral the coffin will be transferred to the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster. There will be a short service following its arrival before the coffin rests in the chapel overnight.

A Downing Street statement said: "On the day itself, the streets will be cleared of traffic and the coffin will travel by hearse from the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster to the Church of St Clement Danes, the RAF Chapel, on the Strand.

"At the church the coffin will be transferred to a gun carriage drawn by the King's Troop Royal Artillery. The coffin will then be borne in procession from St Clement Danes to St Paul's Cathedral. The route will be lined by tri-service military personnel."

The route from the Church of St Clement Danes will be lined by personnel from the RAF, Navy and Army before it is met at St Paul's by a guard of honour. Members of the armed services and pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea will line the steps of St Paul's.

Former colleagues, as well as the Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, will be invited.

Flags will be flown at half mast at Downing Street today and tomorrow, and will be again on the day of the funeral.

In today's statement, Downing Street said that Lady Thatcher's family have asked that if people wish to pay their respects, they consider making a donation to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, rather than laying flowers.

The Number 10 website will have a condolence page on which people will be able to write private messages for the Thatcher family.

The public will be unable to attend the funeral service itself but can line the route of the funeral procession from the RAF Church in the Strand to St Paul's Cathedral.