Husband of Margaret Thatcher dies

Sir Denis Thatcher, husband of Baroness Thatcher and her faithful consort throughout her premiership, died today in the Lister Hospital, London, a spokesman for the family said. He was 88.

The spokesman said: “It is with deep sadness that we have to announce that Sir Denis Thatcher passed away peacefully this morning in the Lister Hospital after a short illness.

“His family were with him at his bedside when he died.”

Sir Denis underwent a five-hour heart transplant operation in January. He appeared to recover from this and after a spell of convalescence in a spa hotel, he travelled to South Africa to recuperate.

But, back in Britain, he felt unwell again two weeks ago and was admitted to the Royal Brompton Hospital and later transferred to the Lister Hospital where he died.

Sir Denis remained constantly at his wife’s side, always protective and thoughtful, when she was Prime Minister. He never put a foot wrong.

He was wrongly depicted as a buffoon of the old school, but in fact he was an astute businessman who was a millionaire before his wife became Britain's Prime Minister.

Lady Thatcher described him as the “golden thread” running through her life and often said that she could not have achieved what she did without his loyalty, love and support.

He comforted her in times of stress and, although he never gave interviews, was often privately savage about those who tried to dislodge her.

He was famed for his “tinctures” and what his daughter Carol described as his “copious” intake of gin, and would regularly hobnob with reporters when he accompanied his wife on official visits abroad.