Nearly a thousand guests have farewelled Nancy Reagan, at her late husband's presidential library in California.

The former First Lady's daughter Patti Davis is amongst those making eulogies.

She talked about growing closer to her mother, who was 94, in her final years.

"I choose to remember walking with her along the beach, somehow the ocean always calmed the air between us and allowed us to be easy with each other."

Nancy Reagan was one of the most influential first ladies in US history.

The former actor was fiercely protective of her husband Ronald Reagan through a Hollywood career, eight years in the White House, an assassination attempt and his Alzheimer's disease.

The Reagan library has confirmed she died from congestive heart failure at her Los Angeles home.

Michael Reagan took to Twitter to tell his followers of his sadness following his stepmother's passing, saying she is "once again with the man she loved."