Revealed: The diet that kept Mrs Thatcher in trim

Some 25,000 documents from May to December 1979 will be made public, covering correspondence, telephone transcripts and policy-making.

Entries in her pocket diary note that she kept hair appointments religiously, having it restyled every three days. And a yellowing note outlined a strict diet regime packed with protein ahead of her 1979 election win.

The programme, which included up to 28 eggs a week, promised to help her shed 20lb in two weeks. The note was found tucked inside her 1979 black leather pocket diary.

The keen new prime minister wanted to maintain tight control on her image, as seen in her reaction to a flippant memo from political strategist Gordon Reece.

A letter from Mr Reece on 31 August, 1979, praises her impact on television as "matchless", but notes that he thinks she should be kept out of studios.

He writes: "You will remember how much better street and location events are for her and studios tend to reduce everybody to the same low level. Television can change people's hearts and we should use it that way."

However, in another note, Lady Thatcher makes clear she will only do television appearances on her own terms.

She wrote "no" next to a suggestion of being interviewed for Panorama to the offer of being interviewed by the BBC's David Holmes. On a script for a party political broadcast speech, Lady Thatcher complains that the content is unsatisfactory. She writes: "This is not a script for me – I just can't say some of these things, and others offer no good reason to vote Conservative."

A memo to her also shows the considerable thought put into the issue of the prime minister's fleet of cars and informs her of the options. It reads: "The use of a Rolls by the Queen's First Minister is in many ways wholly desirable and appropriate. But in the past there have been presentational inhibitions about acquiring them."

The option of three 4.2 Daimler Sovereigns are presented to the prime minister as more fitting.

And a handwritten note from Lord Wolfson expresses concern that she may be wearing herself out and exhausting herself with late-night speech writing.

Her first Cabinet: who scored a place and who was scored out

NOTES on Lady Thatcher's first Cabinet were also released – and reveal a last-minute reshuffle.

Written in pencil, the first draft has Michael Heseltine down as energy secretary. But the entry is scribbled out after an objection from Lord Heseltine, and he is instead chosen as environment secretary.

The papers show Lady Thatcher also considered including a Labour defector in the Cabinet. Reg Prentice was earmarked for the environment post, but ended up as a minister of state.

Nick Ridley and Paul Channon were also on the list, but missed out.

Lady Thatcher's thoughts on forming a Cabinet were revealed in notes of a conversation she had with newly elected Canadian prime minister Joe Clark in May 1979. She wrote: "The only thing that I did was to form what I call a 'well-balanced government'; that is to say that some of us were known to be fervent believers in the almost pure political belief, and I had to balance it out with other people."

Notes also show her planning for Downing Street two years before she came to power – and had already decided to take most of the "major decisions" herself.

The files reveal her supreme confidence at being able to seize power from James Callaghan's beleaguered Labour government. A handwritten letter from August 1977 shows Lady Thatcher was already drawing up a "structure and strategy" to prepare her for Number 10.

When Denis did not want to dine

THE files showed Denis Thatcher as a reluctant guest for the many state functions he was called to attend.

In one note he bemoans missing a night out with his rugby "chums" to attend an official black tie dinner at the swanky Claridge's Hotel in London. Forced to forgo "probably the best rugby dinner of this year", Mr Thatcher wrote: "What I do for the Party, all me chums will be there."

The event, hosted by the president of Indonesia in honour of the Queen, was held on 15 November, 1979 – the same night as the centenary dinner of Middlesex Rugby Football Club.

Mr Thatcher, in another note from a diary secretary, is advised of "another dreaded state banquet" and told an invitation has been accepted on his behalf.

Congratulations from the stars

CELEBRITIES and sportsmen lined up to congratulate Margaret Thatcher following her election as prime minister.

Comedian Eric Morecambe, in a telegram sent to Number 10, described himself as "the good looking one – not the one with the short fat hairy legs".

He wrote: "God bless you, Maggie, and good luck in the European campaign and it is your round next."

Scottish singer Lulu, author Barbara Cartland and actor Peter Sellers, who rose to fame on BBC radio's The Goon Show, also added their congratulations. "I send you many congratulations on your marvellous victory," Sellers wrote.

A big 'no' to face on beer mugs

LADY Thatcher rebuked a Downing Street aide for allowing her image to be used on beer mugs and tea towels, the files reveal.

Gordon Reece said he was "inundated" with requests for Iron Lady postcards, tea cups, tea towels and even pint glasses after the Tories swept to power in 1979.

"So far I have only agreed to one representation for the Iron Lady to be on one side of a pint pot and the Iron Duke on another," the aide said.

Lady Thatcher wrote at the bottom of his letter: "NO permission to be given at all."