The Iron granddaughter: Mark Thatcher's 19-year-old daughter steals the show then says, 'It's in the blood' - Amanda Thatcher gave composed reading during grandmother's funeral - Self-assured reading widely praised on social networks, some describing her as a 'chip off the old block' - Told Conservative MP Rob Wilson afterwards: 'It's in the blood!'
Speaking at the funeral of a loved one can feel like an impossibly daunting task.
To do it aged only 19, with millions watching around the world, is even more remarkable.
Margaret Thatcher’s granddaughter displayed a steely composure worthy of the Iron Lady herself as she addressed St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday – and then told a politician who complimented her performance that it was ‘in the blood’.
'Chip off the old block': A composed Amanda Thatcher after her grandmother's funeral at St Paul's Cathedral yesterday. She won plaudits for her confident reading during the service
Elegant: Amanda Thatcher gave the first reading to the service taken from St Paul's letter to the Ephesians VI, 10-18
Perfect performance: Amanda Thatcher reads faultlessly to the congregation during the funeral service
Confident: Miss Thatcher showed how she takes after her grandmother with a perfectly-delivered reading
Pitch perfect: Amanda Thatcher, right, stands behind her grandmother's coffin draped in a Union Jack, as she delivers her reading
In a pronounced Texan accent, Amanda Thatcher delivered an extraordinarily self-assured reading at the funeral of her grandmother.
Two thousand guests – including the Queen, the Prime Minister and foreign dignitaries – watched intently as the teenager, who has just started university, addressed the audience with remarkable poise and confidence.
At the express wish of her grandmother, Amanda was given a central role in the ceremony to make up for not being given a part in her grandfather’s funeral.
Aged nine, she was considered too young to read at the final farewell to Sir Denis in 2003. Instead her brother Michael, then only 14, delivered a reading in front of around 120 mourners.
Yesterday Amanda gave the service’s first reading, which was chosen by Lady Thatcher. Taken from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians VI, 10-18, the passage reads: ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in The Lord, and in the power of his might.’
Mrs Thatcher's grandchildren: Michael and Amanda Thatcher, who live in Dallas, Texas, are the former Prime Minister's only two grandchildren
Grieving family: Sir Mark Thatcher, his son Michael and his daughter Amanda
It calls for the righteous to put ‘on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil’, and continues: ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’
Wearing a black coat and dress, a wide-brimmed asymmetric hat and a single string of pearls, Amanda spoke confidently and clearly throughout. She barely looked down at the lectern, giving the impression that she knew the reading off by heart.
Within moments of it finishing, her fearless tribute became one of the most discussed topics on Twitter, with observers praising her ‘steely’ demeanour and describing her as a ‘chip off the old block’.
She was followed by David Cameron, who gave the only other reading of the service.
Grief: Carol Thatcher, her Swiss ski instructor boyfriend Marco Grass, Sarah Thatcher, Sir Mark and children Michael and Amanda stand on the steps of the Cathedral as the coffin is placed in the hearse after the funeral
Family grief: Mark Thatcher (centre), son of British former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, his wife Sarah (left) and his daughter Amanda (right) arrive at St Paul's Cathedral
Conservative MP Rob Wilson, who was at the funeral, said: ‘Amanda Thatcher gave an incredibly assured performance for a 19-year-old. I said so when we chatted. Her reply: “It’s sort of in the blood!”’
The teenager – whose middle name is Margaret – and Michael, 24, are Lady Thatcher’s only grandchildren and live in Texas with their mother.
During the service Amanda sat in the front row next to her brother, their father Sir Mark Thatcher, his second wife Sarah and Lady Thatcher’s daughter Carol, who was accompanied by her partner, ski instructor Marco Grass.
Amanda and Michael, who were described by their grandmother as one of her ‘greatest delights’, had walked ahead of the coffin as it entered the cathedral.
Amanda was said to have been a talented sportswoman at school, excelling as a runner, and was also voted ‘most likely to change the world’ by her high school peers. She is now studying at the University of Richmond in Virginia.
Thatcher family: Sir Mark Thatcher with his children Michael and Amanda and his second wife Sarah (left) outside Mrs Thatcher's home in central London shortly after her death last week
Proud grandmother: Mrs Thatcher is comforted by her grandchildren Amanda and Michael outside a memorial service for her late husband Denis in 2003
Fond: Baroness Thatcher had insisted that Amanda gave a reading at her funeral after she was deemed too young to have a role at the farewell to her grandfather Denis in 2003
'We have become a grandmother': Margaret Thatcher outside Number 10 with her baby grandson Michael - the older brother of Amanda - shortly after his birth in 1989 ( dailymail.co.uk )
