A military rehearsal for Margaret Thatcher's funeral took place Monday before dawn, in preparation for the actual event on Wednesday.

A flag-draped coffin was carried by horse-drawn carriage on Monday to St. Paul's Cathedral in central London, where the funeral will take place. Approximately 700 Armed Forces personnel participated in the rehearsal that was organized in order for troops from different service branches to become familiarized with the plan, according to ABC.

House of Commons Speaker John Bercow announced that bells of the Big Ben clock tower will be silenced during the event on Wednesday as a way to show respect for Thatcher. The last time the bells were silenced was for the funeral of United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1995, not counting the period when the clock was briefly repaired in the 1970s.

Lady Thatcher, Britain's only female prime minister, suffered a stroke and died at the age of 87 on April 5. A private cremation will follow her funeral.

Thatcher served from 1975 to 1990 as leader of the Conservative Party. She was called Iron Lady for her political toughness in a field led mostly by men. Her British leadership and journey to the position inspired the 2011 film The Iron Lady, in which actress Meryl Streep played Lady Thatcher.

Thatcher had a stroke in 2002 and several others afterward. Her husband, Denis Thatcher, died in June of 2003. They are survived by their twins - Mark and Carol.