In pictures: Margaret Thatcher

Thatcher in the House of Commons during the State Opening of Parliament in London in July 1970, the year she became secretary of state for education and science. Although she studied chemistry at Oxford University, she veered towards politics and joined the Conservative Party.

In 1975, Thatcher won a leadership challenge against former Prime Minister Edward Heath, making her the leader of the Conservative Party. Above, Thatcher speaks at a meeting, watched by Heath.

In 1979, Thatcher celebrates on the streets of London moments after she became the first woman in history to serve as prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Thatcher meets personnel aboard the HMS Antrim in 1983 during her five-day visit to the Falkland Islands. Thatcher suffered from poor approval ratings at the beginning of her tenure, but in 1982 a British victory over Argentina in the Falkland Islands War shored up support, confirming her "Iron Lady" nickname.

Irish Prime Minister Garret Fitzgerald and Thatcher exchange documents after signing an Anglo-Irish agreement at Hillsborough House in Belfast in November 1985. One year earlier, Thatcher had been the target of an Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb that went off during the Conservative Party conference at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. She escaped unharmed.

French President François Mitterrand and Thatcher exchange documents on February 12, 1986, after signing the Canterbury treaty between France and Britain on the construction of a double rail tunnel under the English Channel.

Thatcher, on election night 1987 in her London constituency of Finchley, becomes the first 20th-century British prime minister to serve three consecutive terms in office.

Thatcher dances with US President Ronald Reagan in 1988 following a state dinner given in her honour at the White House. She was close with Reagan, who shared many of Thatcher(***)s beliefs on economic strategy - favouring laissez-faire policies and social spending cuts.

Thatcher watches as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II delivers her annual speech to the House of Commons at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2004 in London. Thatcher resigned in 1990 after losing the support of the party over differences on European Economic Community policy and a poll tax debacle, which caused massive riots the previous year.

Thatcher waves to the press at her home in November 2010. In her later years, she suffered from poor health and passed away from a stroke on April 8, 2013.

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