Royal fans bemoan not seeing Archie's face AGAIN as Meghan and Harry share new photo of son facing away from camera for his second birthday 'Highlights all ⦠[33] At the Tower of London, a 105 mm gun fired every 60 seconds during the procession. Margaret Thatcher (MANDATORY CREDIT David Montgomery/Getty Images) British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, circa 1985. A man waves Union flags as he drives past Brexit supporters in Parliament Square in London on January 31. His statement praised her as "an unapologetic supporter of our transatlantic alliance, she knew that with strength and resolve we could win the Cold War and extend freedom's promise". Something went wrong, please try again later. The Witch Is Dead" from The Wizard of Oz into the UK Singles Chart,[121] followed by a counter-campaign adopted by Thatcher supporters in favour of the 1979 tongue-in-cheek punk song "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" by the Notsensibles, which had been started by the band's lead singer. The plaque on the fake memorial bench also lists her birth and death dates as: 'Margaret Thatcher 1734 - 2013.' [76][77] A larger demonstration with around 3,000 protesters took place at Trafalgar Square in London on 13 April. [13][14], Details of Thatcher's funeral had been agreed with her in advance. [4][5], Thatcher died at 11:28 BST (10:28 UTC) on 8 April 2013,[6] at the Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly after suffering a stroke. 100% Certified Authentic. [115], Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and South African president Jacob Zuma expressed their "deepest sympathies". On 17 April, she was honoured with a ceremonial funeral. On 28 September 2013, a private and unpublicised service for Thatcher was held in the All Saints Chapel of the Royal Hospital Chelsea's Margaret Thatcher Infirmary. "We're leaving Downing Street for the last time after eleven-and-a-half wonderful years and we're happy to leave the UK in a very much better state than when we came here," she said. Most of her final days were spent at home, sitting in an armchair in the drawing room, listening to classical music or watching Songs of Praise. [17] However, Peter Oborne in The Daily Telegraph argued that the scale of the ceremony amounted to a de facto state funeral and disagreed with the status of a ceremonial funeral. By Alice Broster. Invitations were also sent to representatives of some 200 countries, and to all five living presidents of the United States[38] and all four living British prime ministers. Shop for signed photos, autographs and other autographed items related to Margaret Thatcher. [10] Lord Bell, Thatcher's spokesman, confirmed her death to the Press Association, who issued the first wire report to newsrooms at 12:47 BST (11:47 UTC). The sword had last been used at Churchill's funeral. [2] Despite her illness she pre-recorded a eulogy for the funeral of Ronald Reagan in June 2004, and attended her 80th birthday celebration in 2005 with the Queen and 650 other guests in attendance. [108], New Zealand prime minister John Key praised Thatcher's determination and expressed his "[sadness] for her family and Great Britain". Lady Thatcher, who died last week, was the first British female Prime Minister and served from 1979 to 1990. [14], The scale and the cost to the taxpayer of the funeral, inaccurately estimated before the event at up to £10 million in total, was also criticised by public figures including the Bishop of Grantham, Tim Ellis; Lord Prescott and George Galloway. Over the last ⦠[40] It marked only the second time in the Queen's reign that she attended the funeral of one of her prime ministers, the only other time was for that of Churchill in 1965. [47], Leader of the Opposition and Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said that she would be remembered for having "reshaped the politics of a whole generation [and moving] the centre ground of British politics" and for her stature in the world. [63], Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said she was "an ideologue among pragmatists". The X-Files star is playing Britain's first female Prime Minister on the show. [26], Anticipating possible protests and demonstrations along the route, police mounted one of the largest security operations since the 2012 Summer Olympics. At an EEC summit in London, French President Francois Mitterrand (bottom left), Queen Elizabeth, Margaret Thatcher⦠Mark and his sister Carol released a statement saying their mother had died peacefully this morning after suffering a stroke. Thatcher suffered several small strokes in 2002 and was advised by her doctors not to engage in any more public speaking. [12], Social media played a significant role in the aftermath of her death, with celebrities channelling polarised views about Thatcher on Twitter,[119] and endorsing campaigns and demonstrations. Afterwards Thatcher's ashes were interred in the grounds of the hospital, next to those of her husband. Due to polarised opinion about her achievements and legacy, reaction to her death was mixed across the UK and included contrasting praise, criticism, and celebration of both her life and death. 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[107] The government's national flag protocol dictates that union flags should be lowered to half mast on the funeral days of all former prime ministers;[86] however most Scottish councils did not lower the flag for the funeral. Thatcher's body was subsequently cremated at Mortlake Crematorium. But there was still outrage from her friends last year when the film, The Iron Lady, which won Meryl Streep an Oscar, portrayed Thatcher as bewildered and scared. Tory MP shares photo of âbizarreâ Margaret Thatcher cardboard cut out to celebrate Brexit deal Greg Evans 31/12/2020 Covid third wave 'will wash up on ⦠[16] She had previously vetoed a state funeral; reasons included cost, parliamentary deliberation,[17] and that it suggested similar stature to Winston Churchill (with which she disagreed). [110], Romanian president Traian Băsescu and the premier and foreign minister of Bulgaria, Marin Raykov, cited her influence on them, and sent their condolences. [18] Instead, with her and her family's agreement, she received a ceremonial funeral,[19] including military honours,[20] a guard of honour, and a service at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Invitations were decided by the Thatcher family and their representatives, together with the government and the Conservative Party. Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and the Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. [67] Chris Kitchen, general-secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, stated that miners would "not be shedding a tear for her". On 8 April 2013, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, died of a stroke at the Ritz Hotel, London, at the age of 87. Later that year she failed to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton because of ill-health and also missed the unveiling of a statue to her friend Ronald Reagan in July. At the unveiling she made a rare and brief speech, saying âI might have preferred iron â but bronze will do...It wonât rust.â. [93], Along with the eulogies and expressions of condolence, there were less than sympathetic reactions in Argentina, due to her role in the Falklands War,[95] and in South Africa, given her support for constructive engagement with apartheid South Africa. [125][126] BBC Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said that the station's chart show would not play the No. [7][8] She had been staying in a suite there since December 2012, after having difficulty using the stairs at her house in Chester Square. Margaret Thatcher was one of the UK's worst modern prime ministers -- and her last wish betokens the shallowness of her political vision. The funeral, including a formal procession through Central London that was followed by a church service at St Paul's Cathedral attended by the Queen, cost around £3.6 million, including £3.1 million for security. (Photo by David Montgomery/Getty Images) The Witch Is Dead misses number one spot", "Anti-Margaret Thatcher song Ding Dong! She commented: âI never hugged him. The frail former Iron Lady was pictured last October with son Mark and his wife Sarah as they headed out for her 87th birthday dinner, Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. Photograph: AP Margaret Thatcher, left, and Gillian Anderson portraying her in a scene from the fourth season of The Crown. [25] After the event, it was reported by 10 Downing Street that in fact the total public spending on the funeral was £3.6 million, of which £3.1 million (86 per cent) had been the costs of police and security. [116][117] as did Russian president Vladimir Putin, who said that Thatcher was "a pragmatic, tough and consistent person". [122][123] On 12 April 2013, "Ding-Dong!" [47], Sir John Major, her successor as prime minister, credited Thatcher's leadership with turning Britain around in large measure: "Her reforms of the economy, trades union law, and her recovery of the Falkland Islands elevated her above normal politics. Australian prime minister Julia Gillard expressed admiration for Thatcher's achievements as a woman. [25][56][57] Over half of all Labour MPs chose to boycott the tribute to Thatcher,[58] with many saying it would have been hypocritical for them to honour her as their constituents continued to suffer from some of the decisions she made. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. [92] However, Saracens and Exeter Chiefs held a minute's silence for her before their Premiership rugby union games. Mrs Thatcher's last day in office was a Wednesday. He told a gathering of journalists that his family was "proud and equally grateful" that her funeral service would be attended by the Queen, whose presence he said his mother would be "greatly honored as well as humbled by". The committee was originally chaired by Sir Malcolm Ross, former Master of the Royal Household. Argentine foreign minister Héctor Timerman said that any invitation would have been "just another provocation". [89], Whilst business leaders, including Alan Sugar, Richard Branson, Archie Norman and CBI chief John Cridland, credited her for creating a climate favourable to business in Britain, and lifting the UK "out of the economic relegation zone",[90][91] the Premier League and the Football League rejected having a minute's silence around the country's football grounds, a move backed by the Football Supporters' Federation and the Hillsborough Family Support Group, the latter in reaction to her perceived lack of interest in uncovering abuse committed by the police during the 1989 disaster. Baroness Thatcher dies, aged 87 Picture shows an archive photograph of Baroness Thatcher returning home from hospital after breaking her arm back in 2009 to greet the press on the doorstep of her London home.28.06.2009 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth II, 1979 Anwar Hussein Getty Images From the beginning, their relationship was awkward. In March 2011, she was well enough to attend a Parliamentary reception, where she watched footage of former PM Tony Blair embracing Libyaâs Colonel Gaddafi. But in India, time seems to have stood still since her glory days. [99], US president Obama lamented the loss of "a true friend". She passed away today at the Ritz Hotel, where she had been convalescing after a spell in hospital for bladder surgery in December. I once had a voice teaching colleague who, it was rumoured, had coached Margaret Thatcher in the 1970s. Following the 2010 general election that brought the coalition government into power, Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude was made the new chairman of the committee; the codename given to the plans was changed to True Blue from Iron Bridge to give it "a more Conservative feel". [50], Scottish first minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond acknowledged that "Margaret Thatcher was a truly formidable prime minister whose policies defined a political generation". Despite meeting Nelson Mandela in 1990, Margaret Thatcher had some forthright views on the ANC â Photo: AFP/Getty Images Cyril Ramaphosa stands up for cadre deployment [102] Merkel went on to hail Thatcher's belief in the freedom of the individual as having contributed to "overcoming Europe's partition and the end of the Cold War". [46], A Buckingham Palace spokesman reported the Queen's sadness on hearing the news of her death, and that she would be sending a private message to the family. [47], Irish president Michael D. Higgins extended his condolences saying: "She will be remembered as one of the most conviction-driven British prime ministers" and that "her key role in signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement will be recalled as a valuable early contribution to the search for peace and political stability". [34] The funeral procession was as follows: The bidding (introductory words) was given by the Dean of St Paul's, David Ison. ", "Campaign to get Burnley band's Margaret Thatcher song to number 1", "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100", "Ding Dong! The frail former Iron Lady was pictured last October with son Mark and his wife Sarah as they headed out for her 87th birthday dinner. [114] The Argentine ambassador, Alicia Castro, was invited in line with diplomatic protocol,[38] but declined the invitation. [51] Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, while expressing sympathy to her family, criticised her policies' effects on Wales. But Thatcher really did talk like that, which was a ⦠The funeral cortège commenced at the Houses of Parliament, where Thatcher's coffin had lain overnight in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft beneath St Stephen's Hall at the Palace of Westminster. [69], Spontaneous street parties were held by some across Britain, comparable to the enthusiasm shown for the assassination of sitting prime minister Spencer Perceval in 1812;[70] celebrations of her death took place in Glasgow, Brixton, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Belfast, Cardiff and elsewhere;[71][72][73][74][75] Glasgow City Council advised citizens to stay away from street parties organised without their involvement or consent out of safety concerns. The government would fund the remaining costs, including security. [100], Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper acknowledged Thatcher as having "define[d] the age in which she served [as well as] contemporary conservatism itself". Take a look at the 2021 Golden Globes. Two months later, Thatcher spent a fortnight in hospital suffering from a rheumatic muscle syndrome. [21], Some of Thatcher's supporters expressed disappointment that she would not be given a full state funeral. On 17 April, she was honoured with a ceremonial funeral. [1] On 23 March she announced the cancellation of her planned speaking engagements and that she would accept no more. He expressed gratitude for all the messages of support and condolences from far and wide. On 8 April 2013, former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, died of a stroke at the Ritz Hotel, London, at the age of 87.