The Queen after the service - she lost her sister and mother within weeks

LONDON, England -- The British royal family have gathered for a memorial service for Princess Margaret -- 10 days after the funeral of the Queen Mother.

The Queen led mourners in the service of thanksgiving for her sister, who died aged 71 on February 9, seven weeks before their mother.

Guests included Prime Minister Tony Blair, former prime minister Baroness Thatcher, Princess Margaret's ex-husband Lord Snowdon and her former lover Roddy Llewellyn.

The service, on Friday, marked the end of official court mourning for both Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother.

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As with the Queen Mother's funeral last week, Westminster Abbey was again filled with a sea of black as family, friends, dignitaries and foreign royals gathered to pay their respects.

Though the mood inside was sombre, the service was more a celebration of a life than anything else.

There were no eulogies to the late princess. Instead, in accordance with her wishes, the service was set around Faure's Requiem.

Opera stars Dame Felicity Lott and Bryn Terfel were soloists.

At the princess' request, the 50-minute service was sung by the choirs of Westminster Abbey, King's College, Cambridge, St George's Chapel, Windsor and the Academy of St Martin in the Field, London.

An orchestra also played a selection of her favourite music, including Tchaikovsky's "Awakening" Pas de Deux from the ballet Sleeping Beauty, and compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach.

About 25 members of the UK royal family as well as 600 foreign royals, dignitaries and friends were at the service along with 600 colleagues from charities and other organisations.

In addition 580 members of the public, who asked to be present at the service and were selected by ballot, were there.

Margaret's private funeral service was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on February 15, before her cremation in Slough.

The Queen Mother, who died at the age of 101 on Easter Saturday, requested that no memorial service should be held for herself.