UK : MARGARET THATCHER CELEBRATES HER 70th BIRTHDAY

(17 Oct 1995) Natural Sound

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has been celebrating her 70th birthday in grand style in London.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Thatcher's successor as Prime Minister John Major were amongst the guests at the dinner party at Claridge's Hotel.

The list included friends from the political world and showbusiness stars, as well as family members.

More than 200 people gathered at Claridge's, one of London's top hotels, for a gala dinner to celebrate Baroness Thatcher's 70th birthday.

Lady Thatcher's successor as British Prime Minister, John Major, and his wife, Norma, were amongst the first V-I-Ps to arrive.

Next to join the party were Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, greeted on their arrival by Lady Thatcher and her husband Denis.

Lady Thatcher was the longest serving prime minister of the Queen's reign - the two women met every week for 11 years while the so-called Iron Lady was in office.

The party brought friends from the arts, like film actor Michael Caine, with his wife Shakira.

And her twin children were there too ; businessman son Mark and his Texan wife Diane helped organise guests as they arrived.

And journalist daughter Carol Thatcher chatted with guests before the dinner got under way.

Conservative Cabinet ministers past and present were there, including current Defence Secretary Michael Portillo, seen by some as Thatcher's ideological heir.

His nationalist remarks about Britain's role in Europe at last week's Conservative party conference caused a storm of controversy.

Friends from the business world, like Anglo-French billionaire financier Sir James Goldsmith, turned out to pay tribute to the former leader.

But another former prime minister spotted at Claridge's wasn't there for the party.

Edward Heath - Baroness Thatcher's predecessor - was attending another event, and left just as the celebration was getting under way.

Its no secret that there's little love lost between the two former Conservative leaders. Mrs Thatcher's rise to the top began when she successfully challenged Heath for the party leadership.

She became Britain's first woman Prime Minister in 1979, winning three general elections, before she was deposed by her own party in 1990.

This event won't be her last birthday bash - Lady Thatcher is set to travel to Washington to celebrate with another 800 guests early next week.

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