Archive

Archive (Thatcher MSS)
Personal and party papers, Cambridge

MT: Sir Michael Palliser letter to MT (lunchtime speech at Bonn summit) ["Diplomatic Service incompetence ... very sincere apologies"] [released 2012]

Document type: Declassified documents
Source: Thatcher MSS (Churchill Archive Centre): THCR 1/3/6 f18
Editorial comments:

MT had been given a speech text which included name checks for distinguished Britons seated in the audience. Unfortunately the guest list had been changed and none of them were there. It was, indeed, very embarrassing for her. After a while the audience began to laugh. See press account here.

Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 1p
Themes: Foreign policy (Western Europe - non-EU)