Margaret Thatcher dead: She watched video of Lady Powell's eight Dachsunds during final visit Video was of eight biscuit-coloured Dachshund puppies and their mother They belonged to Lady Powell, wife of Thatcher's No 10 private secretary Lord Powell showed the video in her suite at Ritz in London on Sunday But he told his wife after their meeting that Thatcher was 'drifting away' Baroness Thatcher smiled as she watched a video of playful puppies in the final hours before her death, it emerged last night. It was thought to be her last sign of contentment and she shared it with her trusted friend and former adviser Lord Powell, who visited her often at the Ritz hotel. The video was of eight biscuit-coloured Dachshund puppies and their mother, belonging to Lady Powell, the Italian wife of the former prime minister's trusted Downing Street private secretary. Friends: Lord Powell is pictured with Baroness Thatcher in March 2000. He served as her private secretary Sitting with her at her suite in the Ritz on Sunday night, Powell was the last person to visit her as she neared the end of her life. He took out his iPad to entertain his former boss and on it he showed her a video that his wife had sent him from their home outside Rome, which Lady Thatcher had visited for several years running before she became too unwell. Lady Powell said her husband had told her she smiled at the antics of the puppies and their mother. She told the Guardian: "That was probably her last smile. After seeing her, Charles's comment was, "I'm afraid that she will not be with us for very long. I think she's drifting away."" She passed away the following morning. Lord Powell was among a small circle of trusted friends who visited Lady Thatcher to keep her entertained and stimulated. His wife said he went to see her nearly every week when he was in London. Place of death: Sitting with her at her suite in the Ritz (pictured) on Sunday night, Powell was the last person to visit Baroness Thatcher as she neared the end of her life Sometimes the pair would sing hymns and he would read to her, often from the biographies of other prime ministers. 'Charles's comment was, "I'm afraid that she will not be with us for very long. I think she's drifting away"' Lady Powell He would joke with her that the political world was waiting for her return. Lady Powell said: "He'd say, "You see? They're waiting for us. 'And she'd reply, "Oh, yes. We must go back."" Lady Thatcher visited the Powells' sprawling villa near Rome every summer for several years before she became too ill last year.