Former British prime minister Maggie, Thatcher, 82, was taken to hospital for tests and observation in London, where she was in "stable" condition early Saturday, dpa quoted a spokesman for St Thomas' Hospital in London as saying. The former British leader, 82, was driven from her home by car to the hospital in the center of the British capital, Conservative Party officials told Britain's Press Association. Known as Britain's "Iron Lady" during her time as prime minister from 1979 to 1990, Lady Thatcher suffered a series of strokes in 2003, and her doctors forbade her to make any public speeches. Thatcher's public silence has only been interrupted by such rare occasions as her 80th birthday celebration in 2005, which was seen as her last grand farewell in the public eye.