Statue of Margaret Thatcher (Palace of Westminster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Margaret Thatcher |
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| Artist | Antony Dufort |
| Completion date | 21 February 2007 |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | Margaret Thatcher |
| Dimensions | 223 cm (88 in) |
| Weight | 451 kilograms (994 lb) |
| Location | Members' Lobby, Palace of Westminster, London |
| 51°29′59″N 0°07′29″W / 51.4997°N 0.1248°W | |
This article is about a special bronze statue of Margaret Thatcher. She was a very important person in British history. Margaret Thatcher was the first ever female prime minister of the United Kingdom. This means she was the leader of the country's government.
Her statue stands in a famous place called the Members' Lobby. This lobby is inside the Houses of Parliament in London. The Houses of Parliament are where the UK government makes its laws. The statue was created in 2007.
What the Statue Looks Like
The statue is made of bronze, which is a strong metal. It stands about 2.23 meters (7 feet 4 inches) tall. That's taller than most people! The statue shows Margaret Thatcher as she looked during her last years as Prime Minister. This was between 1987 and 1990.
You can find the statue right across from a statue of another famous leader, Sir Winston Churchill. It also faces the doors to the main meeting room, called the Commons Chamber. The statue shows her with her arm reaching out. It looks like she is giving a speech to the House of Commons. The statue cost about £80,000 to make. It is very heavy, weighing 451 kilograms (994 pounds)!
How the Statue Came to Be
For a long time, there was a rule in Parliament. You could not put up a statue of someone who was still alive and working there. But in 2002, these rules were changed. New rules allowed statues of former Prime Ministers. They could be displayed after a certain time had passed since they left their job.
Because of these new rules, the idea for Margaret Thatcher's statue began in 2003. The artist who created it was Antony Dufort. The plan was to place it in the Members' Lobby. This area already had many statues and busts (head and shoulders sculptures) of other important people.
The statue was officially shown to the public on February 21, 2007. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, unveiled it. Margaret Thatcher herself was there for the event. She was often called "The Iron Lady" because she was very strong and determined. At the unveiling, she joked, "I might have preferred iron, but bronze will do. It won't rust. And, this time I hope, the head will stay on." She said this because a previous statue of her had been damaged. Someone had broken its head off!
Some people thought the statue was a bit short compared to others. For example, the statue of Winston Churchill outside Parliament is much taller. It stands 3.66 meters (12 feet) high. But the statue of Margaret Thatcher is still an important part of Parliament.
Not everyone was happy about the statue being there. Some members of Parliament wanted it removed. However, it remains in its place today. In 2013, a funny warning was given to MPs. They were told not to touch the statue's toes for good luck. This was because too many people touching them was starting to damage the statue!
