Will Donald Trump sit with the Obama, Bush and Clinton families at George HW Bush’s funeral?

GEORGE HW Bush's funeral will take place today (December 5, 2018).

But the current White House incumbent's fraught relationship with the family has lead to speculation over the seating plan. Here's what we know.

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Will Trump sit with the Bush, Obama and Clinton families?

President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, are expected to sit on the front row along with the remaining former presidents and their families: George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Trump has had strained relations with all of them at various points in his relatively short political career. But since , Trump has extended traditional courtesies to the Bush family, including allowing them to stay at the presidential guest house and visiting with them there.

Also attending will be Prince Charles, the king and queen of Jordan, Polish President Andrzej Duda and other dignitaries from around the world.

Former members of the late president's administration are also expected to attend.

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What happened at previous presidential funerals?

At Richard Nixon‘s funeral in 1994, the Clintons, Bushes, Reagans, Carters and Fords sat together in a long line reflecting the order of their presidencies.

At Ronald Reagan‘s in 2004 and Gerald Ford‘s funeral in 2007, the living presidents and first ladies in attendance sat in two rows.

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While the seating arrangement at Reagan’s funeral reflected the order of the administrations, Ford’s didn’t.

Though tradition suggests the presidents and first ladies will all sit together at today’s funeral, the fact that one of those presidents is related to the late president being mourned at the funeral complicates matters.

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George W and wife Laura may prefer to sit with family members instead of former presidential couples.

He has three brothers and a sister who will also be mourning the passing of their father.

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What will happen at the funeral?

For presidents, there's a whole list of customs, protocols and military honours that influence a national farewell, but much of the affair is up to the family.

The president's survivors are entitled to a military escort for the immediate family, for example, until the remains are buried.

A nine-person team that carries the casket is another option and a flag-draped casket is an honour afforded military veterans and the president as commander in chief.