Even decades after she left office, Margaret Thatcher continues to fascinate the public — not just for her political achievements, but also for her personal life.
A recent book has stirred debate by claiming the Iron Lady, Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, had two affairs during her marriage to Denis Thatcher.
The couple, who were married for more than 50 years, had always been regarded as a steadfast pair.
Thatcher herself described Denis as “the golden thread running through my life,” and few scandals were ever publicly associated with the family.
Bombshell Claims in The Incidental Feminist
The revelations come from Tina Gaudoin’s new book, The Incidental Feminist, released to mark what would have been Thatcher’s 100th birthday.
According to Gaudoin, the former Prime Minister had two significant relationships outside her marriage — the first during her early years as an MP, and the second with a fellow politician later in her career.
Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Gaudoin cited multiple sources, including novelist and ex-Conservative minister Jonathan Aitken, who confirmed that Thatcher had been involved with someone “very early on in her parliamentary career.”
The Alleged Affair with Sir Humphrey Atkins
The book also claims that Thatcher had an affair with Sir Humphrey Atkins, the MP for Spelthorne.
Atkins served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under Thatcher from 1979 to 1981 and was later made Baron Colnbrook of Waltham St Lawrence.
He was married with four children and passed away in 1996, six years after Thatcher left office.
Aitken reportedly commented, “There were knowledgeable rumours to that effect at the time.
His good looks might have appealed to her, but his political brain was hopeless.”
Another politician noted that rumours circulated about Atkins’s promotions despite being seen as less capable than his peers.
Rumours About Lord Bell and Other Friendships
The book also delves into Thatcher’s relationship with Lord Bell, her head of PR, describing an “extracurricular friendship” that allegedly included intimate gestures during dinner receptions.
Thatcher’s authorised biographer, Lord Moore, acknowledged he had heard about the Atkins rumour but found no compelling evidence, and dismissed the Lord Bell story as “vanishingly unlikely.”
Denis Thatcher and Mandy Rice-Davies
Interestingly, Gaudoin’s book also examines Denis Thatcher’s friendship with Mandy Rice-Davies, the model and showgirl involved in the infamous 1963 Profumo affair.
According to the book, Denis holidayed with Rice-Davies and even sent her letters beginning with “Mandy dear,” hinting at a curious social circle during the couple’s otherwise private life.
Newly Discovered Nomination Papers Shed Light on Thatcher’s Rise
While Thatcher’s personal life attracts attention, historical discoveries continue to reveal insights about her political career.
Recently, nomination papers that secured her leadership of the Conservative Party in 1975 were found in a dusty garage.
The trove included papers signed by key supporters like Keith Joseph and her campaign manager Airey Neave, who was tragically murdered by the IRA in 1979.
Another document, signed by Thatcher herself, confirmed her victory, showing she won 146 votes in the second round — 67 more than her nearest challenger, Willie Whitelaw.
Despite being considered a rank outsider at the start of the contest, Thatcher’s determination and strategic alliances propelled her to the top, ultimately changing the course of British politics.
Legacy and Public Fascination
Margaret Thatcher remains an enduring figure in British history, celebrated for her political acumen while also intriguing the public with glimpses into her private life.
Books like The Incidental Feminist highlight that even the most formidable public figures can have complex and unexpected personal stories that continue to captivate readers decades later.