Thatcher´s Wardrobe To Be Auctioned

Margaret Thatcher´s  wardrobe will be auctioned by her children later this year, rather than bequeathed to a single institution. More than 350 items from her personal collection - including her famous handbags, jewellery, clothing, and mementoes from key moments in the history of the country - will be auctioned by Christie's, after the Victoria & Albert Museum declined the opportunity to exhibit it, explaining that it only collects items of "outstanding aesthetic or technical quality" rather than those with "intrinsic social historical value," The Telegraph reports.

With estimates ranging from £200 to almost £200,000 depending on the piece, there is an opportunity for fans of the former Prime Minister and national historians alike to grab a piece from a collection that will feature lots as diverse as the red box that she used to carry official documents while she was in power, and her wedding outfit. Thatcher's former personal assistant of 36 years, Cynthia Crawford, will provide auctioneers with context for as many of the pieces as possible, in order to give an understanding of the significance of each.

Thatcher was known for her smart but unfussy style, and while power suits, heritage fabrics, ladylike blouses and understated adornments ensured that she always looked feminine, her attire was as polished and professional as her male counterparts from around the world. At a time when a female prime minister was even more usual that it is today, she managed to simultaneously fit in and stand out.

The sale will take place 25 years after her departure from office, and on the year that would have been her 90th birthday. Thatcher died in 2013 aged 87.