Our faithful readers know that I have a deep appreciation for history, and I love learning more about different times, places, and people. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The more you know about the past, the more prepared you are for the future.” I find that so true, and that’s one of the reasons I throw myself into history, biographies, and nonfiction accounts about all sorts of things.
My latest biography was by Anne Tennant, Baroness Glenconner. Her title explains the book: Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown. What an extraordinary life she’s led indeed!
Anne, the daughter of the fifth Earl of Leicester, served not only as a maid of honour in Queen Elizabeth’s coronation but also as lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret for over 30 years. Born in 1932, Anne grew up on one of the largest estates in England and in the inner circles of the royal family. Her biography walks us through her childhood with her two sisters during World War II, her presentation to the court at 18 (debutante of the year!), her wild 54-year marriage to Colin Tennant, the raising of her five children, and her deep friendship with Princess Margaret. Through many ups and downs, she remained faithful to her family and traveled the world as a member of the Royal court, representing Margaret on a number of occasions.
Anne’s memoir is so well-written. She covers her life in a very orderly fashion, not devoting too much time to one area or rushing another. She is open about the good and the bad. Her writing is very witty and tasteful. I love how she doesn’t shy away from the nitty-gritty; and there was certainly some grit in her life.
Anne’s marriage was particularly tumultuous. She remained faithful to her husband until his death, but he was publicly unfaithful to her, often discussing his lovers with her. He purchased the island of Mustique in 1958 and devoted much of his time and effort to it. Mustique became a haven for many celebrities, including Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Tommy Hilfinger, and was known for its lavish parties, courtesy of Colin. He even presented land to Princess Margaret as a wedding present, which she eagerly accepted. It was impactful to read about Anne’s devotion to her spouse despite his erratic behavior; she had a deep friendship with him and stated they made a good team.
She also raised five children and buried her two eldest. She watched her oldest son struggle with a heroin addiction and pass away from Hepatitis C, while her second eldest son died from AIDs by the age of 30. Her third son, Christopher, she nursed back to health after a devastating motorcycle accident that left him in a coma for months.
Through all of this, Anne was Princess Margaret’s faithful lady-in-waiting, and Princess Margaret remained an ardent friend and supporter during the painful times in Anne’s life. They traveled the world, met dignitaries, partied with celebrities, and so much more. Anne was there through Margaret’s painfully publicized divorce in 1978 and, later, her numerous health issues. She penned this memoir in part to refute the negative things so often said of Princess Margaret. Their friendship and devotion to one another is moving.
While the autobiography focuses on Anne’s life, we get more than a glimpse into British aristocracy, and it’s truly fascinating. I highly recommend this book. Anne is a gifted storyteller, filling her book to the brim with aristocratic and royal life, funny stories, heartwarming memories, and sobering realities.
Oh, and she’s friends with actress Helena Bonham-Carter who actually met with her to talk in depth about Princess Margaret so she could accurately portray her in Netflix’s series The Crown. So that’s pretty neat!
Jessica
Copyright Anne Glenconner and Hachette Book Group, Inc. Image from Amazon.com.
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