U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks to reporters following her meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister David-Levy and Palestinian Authority senior negotiator Mahmoud-Abbas which took place on the fringes of the 52nd session of the United Natio
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks to reporters following her meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister David-Levy and Palestinian Authority senior negotiator Mahmoud-Abbas which took place on the fringes of the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, September 29. Reuters / Mike Segar

President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will lead tributes on Wednesday to Madeleine Albright, the first woman to lead the U.S. State Department, at a memorial service in Washington.

Albright, who served as secretary of state from 1997 to 2001, died last month of cancer. The professor, businesswoman, mother and grandmother was heralded as a trailblazer after her death.

Albright and her family fled the Nazis in her native Czechoslovakia during World War Two. They eventually settled in the United States, where Albright grew to become a tough-talking diplomat, famous for a sometimes sharp tongue and a collection of pins she would wear to send political messages.

Albright's memorial service is being held at the Washington National Cathedral, and streams of mourners had already gathered by midmorning. More than 1,400 people were expected to attend, according to a spokesperson for the family, including foreign ministers, ambassadors and members of Congress.

The family requested that attendees wear masks inside the cathedral; Washington has experienced a dramatic uptick in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.

Biden and the Clintons will each give remarks, as will Albright's three daughters. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will give a reading from the Bible.

Former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and former Vice President Al Gore are also expected to attend along with current administration officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Albright served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997 during President Clinton's first term before becoming secretary of state and was an active supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns.