A remarkable, never-before-seen photograph featuring former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher alongside Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother has been discovered and is set to go under the hammer. The image forms part of a collection of personal belongings from the late Baroness Thatcher, which will be sold at auction this Friday.
A Historic Snapshot from a Private Collection
The photograph captures Baroness Thatcher, who died in 2013, standing with her husband Sir Denis Thatcher beside the former monarch and her mother. Intriguingly, the provenance of the snap is unknown, with the auction catalogue listing no details about the date, location, or photographer. In the image, Queen Elizabeth II wears a beige twin set, while the Queen Mother is pictured in a matching tweed jacket and skirt, accessorised with a string of pearls.
Both royal women are wearing tartan skirts, a strong indicator that the picture was likely taken at Balmoral Castle during the Prime Minister's annual visit to the Scottish estate. The whitewashed building visible in the background appears to match Birkhall, the Queen Mother's former residence on the Balmoral grounds, which passed to the then-Prince Charles following her death in 2002.
Dispelling Myths and Personal Treasures
This portrait, which was displayed in Lady Thatcher's own home, is seen as evidence to counter long-standing reports of a strained relationship between the monarch and her longest-serving peacetime Prime Minister. The framed photograph, measuring seven by nine inches and presented in a grey leather Asprey frame, carries a guide price of £400 to £600.
The annual Balmoral visits were famously dramatised in the Netflix series The Crown, which depicted Thatcher as ill-prepared for the outdoor pursuits the late Queen enjoyed. Historical accounts suggest the Iron Lady found the trips challenging; biographer Ben Pimlott noted she viewed them as 'purgatory' and would depart at 6am on the final day. A former Whitehall official remarked, 'She couldn’t get away fast enough.'
Other Notable Items in the Auction
The sale at Sloane Street Auctions features several other personal items from Lady Thatcher's estate. Highlights include:
- A framed menu from a dinner held at The White House in 1988, hosted by President Ronald Reagan in the Baroness's honour. The handwritten menu bears the White House insignia and is dated Wednesday, November 16, 1988, with an estimate of £200-£400.
- A Regency mahogany desk, with a guide price of £1,000-£2,000, which was a gift from her husband Sir Denis and kept at her Chesham Place office.
- A silver cup presented to Lady Thatcher to mark her third consecutive general election victory in 1987. The cup, engraved with 'The Prime Minister' around the rim and 'No 10' alongside the iconic doors of Downing Street, is estimated to fetch between £1,000 and £2,000.
Thatcher's 1987 election win made her the first Prime Minister in over 160 years to secure three successive terms in office, defeating Labour leader Neil Kinnock. These artefacts offer a tangible connection to a pivotal era in modern British political history.
