Lady in Waiting
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4.3 • 95 Ratings
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
Discover untold secrets with this extraordinary memoir of drama and tragedy by Anne Glenconner—a close member of the royal circle and lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret.
Anne Glenconner has been at the center of the royal circle from childhood, when she met and befriended the future Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, the Princess Margaret. Though the firstborn child of the 5th Earl of Leicester, who controlled one of the largest estates in England, as a daughter she was deemed "the greatest disappointment" and unable to inherit. Since then she has needed all her resilience to survive court life with her sense of humor intact.
A unique witness to landmark moments in royal history, Maid of Honor at Queen Elizabeth's coronation, and a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret until her death in 2002, Anne's life has encompassed extraordinary drama and tragedy. In Lady in Waiting, she will share many intimate royal stories from her time as Princess Margaret's closest confidante as well as her own battle for survival: her broken-off first engagement on the basis of her "mad blood"; her 54-year marriage to the volatile, unfaithful Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, who left his fortune to a former servant; the death in adulthood of two of her sons; a third son she nursed back from a six-month coma following a horrific motorcycle accident. Through it all, Anne has carried on, traveling the world with the royal family, including visiting the White House, and developing the Caribbean island of Mustique as a safe harbor for the rich and famous-hosting Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Raquel Welch, and many other politicians, aristocrats, and celebrities.
With unprecedented insight into the royal family, Lady in Waiting is a witty, candid, dramatic, at times heart-breaking personal story capturing life in a golden cage for a woman with no inheritance.
New York Times Bestseller
USA Today Bestseller
The Sunday Times Bestseller
The Globe and Mail Bestseller
ABA Indie Bestseller
The Times (UK) Memoir of the Year
One of Newsweek's Most Anticipated Books of 2020
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Anne Glenconner’s fascinating memoir proves that living with a real-life princess is far from a fairy tale. Born to England’s Earl of Leicester but unable to inherit his land and titles due to her gender, Lady Glenconner found a place for herself alongside Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret. Her stories about traveling the globe and partying with rock stars like Mick Jagger are everything we could have wanted after seeing Princess Margaret’s ’60s-party-girl portrayal on The Crown. But Glenconner’s story also goes deeper, through the dangers and fears of World War II, a tormented marriage to a badly spoiled aristocrat, and a family tragedy no parent should endure. She takes you through this richly detailed story with a delightful stiff-upper-lip sensibility and “jolly well get on with it” attitude, which her absolutely perfect upper-crust narration delivers. Her wit and candor make this intimate peek behind the curtain fantastically fun to read, proving that truth is sometimes far more compelling than fiction.
Customer Reviews
Extraordinary Memoir!
A story of great privilege as well as great tragedy followed by great strength.
Absolutely Terrific
One of the best memoirs I’ve ever listened to. I was sorry when the book ended!
Lady in Waiting
This is an interesting book. It makes me thankful for being ordinary. Her life in my humble opinion is like a life on another planet. I enjoyed it but my next book will be a happier one!