Mark Thatcher

The Honourable
Sir Mark Thatcher
Bt
Born (1953-08-15) 15 August 1953 (age 71)
Hammersmith, London, England
EducationHarrow School
OccupationBusinessman
Spouses
  • Diane Burgdorf
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1987; div. 2005)​
  • Sarah-Jane Russell
    ​
    (m. 2008)​
ChildrenMichael and Amanda
Parents
Relatives
FamilyThatcher family

Sir Mark Thatcher, 2nd Baronet (born 15 August 1953) is an English businessman. He is the son of Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, and Sir Denis Thatcher, 1st Baronet; his sister is Carol Thatcher.

His early career in business led to suggestions that he was benefiting from his mother's position, notably in relation to the Al-Yamamah arms deal. He left the UK in 1986, and has since lived in the United States, Switzerland, Monaco, South Africa, Gibraltar, Barbados, Guernsey, and Spain. In 2003 The Sunday Times estimated his wealth at £60 million, most of which was suggested to be in offshore accounts.[1]

In 2005, he was convicted and given a four-year suspended prison sentence and fined in South Africa for funding the 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt.[2]

He has two children by his first wife, Diane Burgdorf. He married his second wife, Sarah-Jane Russell (née Clemence), in 2008.[3] After his father's death in 2003, he became Sir Mark Thatcher and succeeded to the Thatcher baronetcy, a hereditary title which had unusually been given to his father in 1990 (this being the only baronetcy created since 1964).[4][5]

  1. ^ "Thatcher's son joins rich with £60m haul". The Sunday Times. 14 September 2003.
  2. ^ "Thatcher fined over 'coup plot'". BBC News. 13 January 2005.
  3. ^ "Mark Thatcher: The wayward son who finds himself torn between publicity and propriety". The Independent. 10 April 2013.
  4. ^ "The Baronetage". Debretts. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013. The creation of baronetcies lapsed in 1964; in 1990 the Conservative Government announced that this honour would be given to Denis Thatcher, but there have been no further creations
  5. ^ "Points of Order". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 18 December 1990. As I understand your ruling, Mr. Speaker, it is out of order for us in any way to criticise the advice that a Prime Minister gives to the monarch about granting honours. I was deeply critical when I proposed the introduction of my Bill. What is more, the House gave me leave to introduce it. I was supported by many hon. Members throughout the House. Although honours may technically be awarded by the Queen, we all know that advice is given by the Prime Minister. Just as it is in order to criticise Cabinet Ministers who may technically—