Jimmy Carter state funeral in Washington: Live updates as day of mourning set for 39th president

Carter was born on October 1, 1924, with the rarely-used full name James Earl Carter, Jr. and was raised during the Great Depression.

The son of a Georgia peanut farmer, he said that farming, talk of politics, and devotion to the Baptist faith were pillars of his upbringing.

Carter (pictured above at the age of 13) graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1946 and married Rosalynn Smith shortly afterward.

Jimmy Carter served seven years as a Naval Officer before returning to Georgia, where he entered state politics in 1962.

Eight years later, he was elected governor of Georgia.

Carter died at the age of 100 on December 29 at around 3:40pm.

The centenarian had been receiving end-of-life care at his home in Plains, Georgia, where his wife Rosalyn also died on November 19, 2023.

The Democrat former peanut farmer, who served one term in the White House from 1977 to 1981 and dedicated the rest of his life to charity, decided against more medical treatment and entered hospice in February 2023 after a string of hospital stays.

At 100 years old, he was the longest-lived former president in America’s history.

His death was announced by his son Chip, 74, who said:

My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs.

The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.

He is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Carter becomes the sixth American president to be given an official state funeral at the United States Capitol as the nation prepares to honor its late commander-in-chief.

President Joe Biden announced there will be a national day of mourning for Carter on January 9, coinciding with his funeral. The day is typically held several days after the president’s death.

Richard Nixon’s took place five days after his death, Gerald Ford’s was a week following his to coincide with his funeral, George H.W. Bush’s was four days after he died and Reagan was six days.

Presidential funerals traditionally last five days and come in three different stages, with ceremonies held in the president’s home state and then Washington, before concluding where the deceased has chosen to be buried.

Carter has long planned to be buried next to his late wife of 77 years, Rosalyn Carter, at the Plains, Georgia home they shared, according to People News.

The sitting president and his family are considered in charge of planning the funeral ceremonies. The Washington portion of the state funeral occurs at the Washington National Cathedral.

The funeral usually ends in a procession down Pennsylvania Avenue, where the White House is located.

Honor guards form a rifle party and fire a three-volley salute over the gravesite, according to Reader’s Digest.

Then, the body will be sent back to Georgia for the burial.

Carter’s flag-draped casket arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday afternoon where it was transferred to a hearse by a military cordon during an arrival ceremony.

His casket was then transferred to a horse-drawn caisson during a procession at the U.S. Navy Memorial as members of the Carter family accompanied Carter’s body on its final journey to the U.S. Capitol.

People stood along the snow-lined streets to watch the emotional procession as the casket made its way through Washington.

Some mourners held signs expressing their love for the late president.

Carter’s body has lied in state at the Capitol Rotunda ahead of the state funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage as former US president Jimmy Carter is honoured in Washington at his state funeral following his death last month.

The 39th president to serve in the White House died at the age of 100 after an extraordinary life of service inside and outside of politics.

His state funeral marks a national day of mourning as Carter is remembered by Americans in Washington before he is laid to rest in Georgia.

Stick with our coverage as we guide you through the day with our reporters in London and New York plus the most striking pictures and video from the service.