Face etched with grief: Carol Thatcher returns to her mother's home
Carol Thatcher returned to Britain last night to help with the preparations for her mother’s funeral.
Miss Thatcher, who lives in Klosters, Switzerland, arrived at her mother’s home in Belgravia shortly before 7pm.
She arrived in a black Jaguar accompanied by a casually dressed man believed to be her boyfriend Marco Grass.
Dressed in a black shawl with black
trousers and large dark sunglasses, the 59-year-old appeared emotional
as she was met on the steps by her twin brother Mark who quickly ushered
her into the house.
Meanwhile, programming chiefs at ITV rejected plans for a news special to provide full coverage of Lady Thatcher’s funeral, opting instead for it to be covered through This Morning, it emerged yesterday.
Journalists at the broadcaster were dismayed to learn that Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will be used as a link to the funeral as they present their popular daytime show.
According to sources, Alastair Stewart and Julie Etchingham had been lined up to present if the broadcaster had agreed to traditional live coverage on Wednesday. Now Miss Willoughby, 32, and Mr Schofield will link to Mr Stewart to provide ‘live updates’.
In comparison, the BBC will provide
more heavyweight coverage through veteran presenter David Dimbleby,
who will front a three-hour special.
ITV insiders say proposals for a special programme fronted by its journalists were rejected because of the cost, understood to be in the region of £500,000.
One reporter on ITV News said: ‘There is always disappointment when you are leaving full coverage to others.’
Meanwhile it has been reported that Italy premier Silvio Berlusconi will not be attending the funeral, despite a concerted effort to gain an invitation.
Mr Berlusconi’s office made ‘numerous and insistent’ phone calls to the Italian embassy in London, but acting prime minister Mario Monti will represent Italy.
Miss Thatcher, who lives in Klosters, Switzerland, arrived at her mother’s home in Belgravia shortly before 7pm.
She arrived in a black Jaguar accompanied by a casually dressed man believed to be her boyfriend Marco Grass.
Grief: Carol Thatcher arrives at the home of Lady Thatcher in Belgravia, London this afternoon
Family photo: Carol and Mark Thatcher pose
outside Lady Thatcher's Belgravia home with their partners, Miss
Thatcher's boyfriend Marco Grass and Sir Mark's wife Sarah
Unity: Mark Thatcher puts a comforting arm
around his twin sister before quickly ushering her inside their late
mother's London townhouse
Meanwhile, programming chiefs at ITV rejected plans for a news special to provide full coverage of Lady Thatcher’s funeral, opting instead for it to be covered through This Morning, it emerged yesterday.
Journalists at the broadcaster were dismayed to learn that Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield will be used as a link to the funeral as they present their popular daytime show.
According to sources, Alastair Stewart and Julie Etchingham had been lined up to present if the broadcaster had agreed to traditional live coverage on Wednesday. Now Miss Willoughby, 32, and Mr Schofield will link to Mr Stewart to provide ‘live updates’.
Gathering: Mark Thatcher took to the steps of
Lady Thatcher's home to welcome his sister as she returned from
Switzerland to the UK
Siblings: This is the first time in a decade that Mark and Carol Thatcher have been seen in public together
Family mourns: The siblings briefly appeared on
the steps of their mother's home tonight, their first appearance
together since their father's funeral
ITV insiders say proposals for a special programme fronted by its journalists were rejected because of the cost, understood to be in the region of £500,000.
One reporter on ITV News said: ‘There is always disappointment when you are leaving full coverage to others.’
Meanwhile it has been reported that Italy premier Silvio Berlusconi will not be attending the funeral, despite a concerted effort to gain an invitation.
Mr Berlusconi’s office made ‘numerous and insistent’ phone calls to the Italian embassy in London, but acting prime minister Mario Monti will represent Italy.
