Thatcher's Clothes And Jewellery To Be Sold

Clothing and jewellery belonging to Baroness Thatcher are to be auctioned off with the proceeds divided between family members.

Some 350 lots will be put up for sale, including her red leather despatch box and her 1951 wedding outfit, and are expected to fetch up to £500,000.

The items are being sold by her children, Sir Mark and Carol, and the proceeds will be split between them and the late Lady Thatcher's grandchildren.

Another key piece in the collection is an art deco emerald and diamond necklace by Chaumet, which is estimated to sell for between £120,000 and £180,000.

According to reports, the V&A Museum declined the offer of Lady Thatcher's collection because it did not fit with the ethos of its other fashion items on display.

However, in a statement the museum said: "no formal offer was made for the museum to acquire the collection".

It added: "Several years ago, a general discussion took place to explore whether some pieces from the wardrobe of Baroness Thatcher might be added to the V&A's collection. These conversations did not develop."

Business Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted: "Shame the V&A has turned down Thatcher's personal collection. I for one would have loved to see it!"

Documents written by the former prime minister were donated to the nation and are held at the Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge.

They were given in lieu of £1m of inheritance tax.

A Christie's spokesman said: "These sales are taking place 25 years after Margaret Thatcher left office, at the end of her 11-year high-profile tenure as prime minister.

"These auctions present unique opportunities, across price levels, for collectors around the world to acquire property from the longest-serving prime minister of the United Kingdom in the 20th century and the only woman to have held office to date."

There will be two sales: an online sale comprising 200 lots will open on 3 December and an auction presenting 150 lots at Christie's headquarters on 15 December.