Bushes make surprise appearance among mourners paying respects to late president

The family of George HW Bush made a surprise visit to Washington DC’s Capitol Rotunda where mourners have been paying their respects to the late president.

The Bushes – including his son, the former president George W Bush – shook hands with visitors and tourists who had lined up to honour the family patriarch, who died aged 94 on Friday.

George W and Laura Bush entered first and the former president put his hand on the flag-draped casket holding the remains of his father.

They mingled for about 10 minutes and at one point George W Bush held up a baby.

Soldiers, citizens in wheelchairs and long lines of others on foot wound through the hushed Rotunda on Tuesday to view the casket and remember a president whose legacy included World War military service and a landmark law affirming the rights of the disabled.

The CIA also honoured Mr Bush, the only spy chief to become president, as three agency directors past and present joined the public in the viewing.

Mrs Bush’s Instagram account described it as a “sweet visit during this sombre week”.

The Trumps also visited members of the Bush family at the Blair House presidential guesthouse, where they are staying.

Although Mr Trump will attend Mr Bush’s national funeral service on Wednesday, he is not among the eulogists announced by the Mr Bush family, which includes George W Bush.

His final resting place will be alongside Barbara Bush, his wife of 73 years who died in April, and Robin Bush, the daughter they lost to leukemia in 1953 aged three.

Mr Bush’s death reduces membership in the ex-presidents’ club to four: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama.