Editing Denis Thatcher (section)

== Illness and death ==
[[File:The burial site of Margaret and Denis Thatcher at the Royal Hospital Chelsea - geograph.org.uk - 7601200.jpg|thumb|Plaques on the graves of Denis and Margaret Thatcher at the [[Royal Hospital Chelsea]] (pictured in 2023)]]

In the autumn of 1992, Thatcher was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]],{{sfn|Moore|2019|page=788}} but it was caught early. He responded well to treatment.

On 17 January 2003, Thatcher underwent a six-hour [[Coronary artery bypass surgery|heart-bypass operation]] and [[aortic valve]] operation at a [[Harley Street]] clinic. He had complained of breathlessness for several weeks before Christmas 2002, and the problem was diagnosed in early January. He left the clinic on 28 January 2003 and appeared to recover fully after recuperation. Thatcher returned home on 14 February and visited his son Mark in South Africa in April, but in early June, he again complained of breathlessness and listlessness. Lady Thatcher's staff also thought he looked unwell, and on 13 June, he was admitted to the [[Royal Brompton Hospital]] for further tests.<ref name="irishtimes.com">{{Cite news|title=Sir Denis Thatcher dies in London aged 88|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/sir-denis-thatcher-dies-in-london-aged-88-1.484657|access-date=2020-10-12|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=26 June 2003}}</ref> Nothing wrong was found with his heart but terminal [[pancreatic cancer]] was diagnosed,{{sfn|Harris|2013|page=426}} along with fluid in his lungs. He was told nothing could be done for him, and after seven days there, on 20 June, he was transferred to the [[Lister Hospital, Chelsea|Lister Hospital]].<ref name="irishtimes.com" /> He lost consciousness on 24 June<ref name="Telegraph2003">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Colin |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1434373/I-was-holding-Lady-Thatchers-hand-and-she-was-holding-Deniss-when-he-died.-There-were-no-final-words.html |title='I was holding Lady Thatcher's hand, and she was holding Denis's when he died. There were no final words' |date=29 June 2003 |work=The Telegraph |access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref> and never regained it. He died on the morning of 26 June, at the age of 88.<ref name="Telegraph2003" />

His funeral service took place on 3 July 2003 at the chapel of the [[Royal Hospital Chelsea]] in London, followed by a cremation at [[Mortlake Crematorium]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mortlakecrematorium.org/downloads/BROCHURE.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050314225941/http://www.mortlakecrematorium.org/downloads/BROCHURE.pdf |title=Notable dead at Mortlake |publisher=Mortlake Crematorium |archive-date=14 March 2005}}</ref> in [[Richmond, London]]. On 30 October, a memorial service was held at [[Westminster Abbey]]. His ashes were buried under a white marble marker just outside the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9980312/Margaret-Thatcher-Dont-waste-money-on-a-flypast-at-my-funeral.html |title= Margaret Thatcher: 'Don't waste money on a flypast at my funeral' |work = The Telegraph |location = London |date= 8 April 2013 |access-date=2021-03-21 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Following [[Death and funeral of Margaret Thatcher|his wife's death in 2013]], her ashes were buried near his.<ref name="Telegraph-20130913">{{cite news|title= Baroness Thatcher's ashes laid to rest|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/10341402/Baroness-Thatchers-ashes-laid-to-rest.html|date= 28 September 2013|work= The Telegraph|access-date=2021-03-21 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="BBC-intere">{{cite news|title= Margaret Thatcher's ashes laid to rest at Royal Hospital Chelsea|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24316701|date= 28 September 2013|work= BBC News |access-date=2021-03-21}}</ref>