Fears grow over 'frail' Baroness Thatcher after no public appearance for nearly two months

Mail on Sunday (UK) ^ | 8th May 2011 | Simon Walters

[naturalman1975]

Friends of Margaret Thatcher last night voiced their concern over the ex-Prime Minister’s growing frailty.

Baroness Thatcher turned down an invitation to the Royal Wedding because of her health and has made no public appearances for nearly two months.

The next event in her diary is the unveiling of a statue to her ally and close friend, former US President Ronald Reagan, in London on July 4.

But there are fears that she could also miss that.

.....

The Mail on Sunday has also learned that the Government will meet the full cost of a State funeral for Baroness Thatcher.

It will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral, at Lady Thatcher’s request, though it has not yet been decided if she will lie in state in Westminster Hall.

She will be the first British Prime Minister since Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 to be afforded such an honour. He was the only former Premier to have a State funeral in the last century.

There were four non-Royal State funerals in the 19th Century – Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and two former Prime Ministers, Lord Palmerston and William Gladstone.

.....

The Queen has given her blessing to the funeral arrangements in recognition of the way Lady Thatcher reversed the UK’s post-Second World War decline, being Britain’s first woman Prime Minister, winning three Elections from 1979 to 1990 – and the Falklands War.

State funerals are reserved for monarchs but may, by order of the reigning monarch, be granted to other national heroes, such as Lord Nelson.

[naturalman1975]

There were four non-Royal State funerals in the 19th Century – Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and two former Prime Ministers, Lord Palmerston and William Gladstone.

Sloppy history that fails to mention that the Duke of Wellington was also a former Prime Minister - it may not have been what he is most famous for, but nonetheless it was significant.

[fatnotlazy]

For crying out loud, the woman is up in years. Why does she have to accept every invitation and attend every event?

[Cincinatus]

She will be the first British Prime Minister since Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 to be afforded such an honour.

Churchill and Thatcher are the only ones to deserve such an honor.

[OldMissileer]

I do not shed many tears.

I did for Reagan. I will for Thatcher.

[ClearCase_guy]

My first memory of watching television was Churchill's funeral. I was 5 and I didn't really know what I was watching, but I remembered the visuals. Years later I realized what I had seen.

Churchill and Thatcher were the best that Britain produced in the 20th century.

[tanknetter]

The Queen has given her blessing to the funeral arrangements in recognition of the way Lady Thatcher reversed the UK’s post-Second World War decline, being Britain’s first woman Prime Minister, winning three Elections from 1979 to 1990 – and the Falklands War.

Forgot that she was the backbone behind Bush41, not letting him "go wobbly", leading into the Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait.

[SueRae]

God Bless Margaret Thatcher. I am grateful for being alive in her time. What a leader and role model. I wish her well.

[naturalman1975]

I've been in England recently, and while I was there, I visited Churchill's old school (as a teacher, I find such places interesting). Harrow is one of Britain's oldest and best known schools (established 1572 but on the site of a school that dates from the 13th century).

While I was talking to some of the staff there, one of them mentioned one of the last times Churchill visited the school. He joined with the boys in singing the school song called Forty Years On.

And then the boys sang to him, two new verses.

Sixty years on — though in time growing older,
Younger at heart you return to the Hill
You, who in days of defeat ever bolder
Led us to Victory, serve Britain still
Still there are bases to guard or beleaguer
Still must the battle for Freedom be won
Long may you fight, Sir, who fearless and eager
Look back to-day more than sixty years on

Blazoned in honour! For each generation
You kindled courage to stand and to stay
You led our fathers to fight for the nation
Called "Follow up" and yourself showed the way
We who were born in the calm after thunder
Cherish our freedom to think and to do
If in our turn we forgetfully wonder
Yet we'll remember we owe it to you.

Apparently it reduced the great man to tears.

I just found that an incredibly touching tribute when I heard about it.

[ClearCase_guy]

Wow

[napscoordinator]

The Mail on Sunday has also learned that the Government will meet the full cost of a State funeral for Baroness Thatcher.

It will cost a fortune. I hope the family will chip in some of the costs just like the Windsors did for William and Kate’s wedding. Britain cannot afford these affairs anymore and until they control spending should not have them. Of course big government folks here will be disgusted over these comments but that is what I expect from the big government lovers.

[FrdmLvr]

Beautiful.

[Afterguard]

You are so right. I will too. She is the last of the giants of the last half of the 20th century - Lady Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Paul II.

[PapaBear3625]

I am not in any way a fan of big government, and think that 90% of the current federal work force should be laid off.

I still think that a state funeral for Lady Thatcher would be a nice way of saying "thank you", and a better use of money than paying more welfare.

[tioga]

Prayers for her. She is a special lady. I hadn’t heard she didn’t attend the wedding, but lots of older folks don’t socialize that much, we shouldn’t make too much out of it.

[ErnBatavia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2716562/posts

[napscoordinator]

I still think that a state funeral for Lady Thatcher would be a nice way of saying “thank you”, and a better use of money than paying more welfare.

i think if they want to spend money on her than hold some sort of dinner with her ALIVE. And the rest of the money put towards Britain’s debt. I bet she would be for that.

[Mr. Jeeves]

She bought Britain another 30 years to wise up, just as Reagan did for the United States. Unfortunately, neither people learned the lessons of the 1970’s and are now having to learn them again.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Churchill and Thatcher were the best that Britain produced in the 20th century.

"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others." Winston Churchill..