London, Nov. 24 Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher came back to 10 Downing Street to attend the unveiling of her portrait.

Thatcher's portrait was unveiled at a private reception hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and will go on permanent display in the state room lobby on the first floor of Downing Street.

Although photographs of all modern Prime Ministers line the main staircase in Number 10, Thatcher is believed to be the first living politician to have her portrait hung in the official residence of the Prime Minister, The Telegraph reports.

Baroness Thatcher arrived at Number 10 wearing a long royal-blue jacket. She was greeted on the steps of her former residence by Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah.

Brown shook hands with Thatcher, who paused for photographs outside the famous door but said nothing to waiting reporters.

As Thatcher stood clasping her trademark handbag, some reporters asked, "Is it good to be home?" and "Are you pleased to be back?"

The guest list for the 50-minute event included former members of Thatcher's cabinet - Lord Carrington and Michael Forsyth, close advisers like Sir Bernard Ingham, Lord Bell, Lord Saatchi and editor of The Sun Kelvin MacKenzie and ex-TV reporter and Strictly Come Dancing star John Sergeant.

Thatcher left Downing Street after the reception. She exchanged a few words with Brown and waved to photographers before being taken away in a chauffeur-driven car.

Brown offered Thatcher the honour of an official portrait in Downing Street when she visited him for tea in September 2007.

The portrait by Richard Stone, who has previously painted the Queen and the Queen Mother, was paid for by an anonymous donor. (ANI)