Margaret Thatcher, Britain's longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century, passed away on April 8, 2013, after suffering from a stroke. She was 87.

Born as a grocer's daughter, Margaret Thatcher came to power at a time of economic and political crisis and was the first prominent woman prime minister of a western democracy.

While Thatcher was away due to ill health - she withdrew from public appearances in 2002, after a series of strokes and the onset of dementia - the Baroness remains to be a deeply polarising political and cultural icon.

Still, her controversial 11 year-rule has undoubtedly transformed Britain; its effects remain to be felt today. Thatcher tackled problems of the British welfare state system by pushing for privatisation and increasing deregulation of public services, stating blithely that "the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money".

With an icon so culturally pervasive, there still are a few interesting factoids to know about this Iron Lady. Here's five that you may not have heard of.

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