Ritz staff help in Margaret Thatcher's final send-off

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's body was driven away from the Ritz by private ambulance in the early hours of this morning.

Thatcher had been staying in a suite at the Ritz since coming out of hospital in December last year.

It is thought that the hotel's owners, the Barclay brothers, had arranged for her accommodation there.

Staff at the hotel had already made preparations for Thatcher's departure yesterday by erecting a black hoarding around the back entrance of the iconic building. The hotel's Union flag has also been lowered to half mast.

The Daily Mirror quoted a "source" at the hotel who said: "A lot of the staff here didn't even realise she was one of the guests.

"She was never seen in the dining room, probably because she was so unwell."

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