Lady in Waiting

Reviews / Votes

'Lady Glenconner's life story is a combination of royal magic, personal tragedy and resilient survival. With humour, courage and preternatural poise, she at last tells the story of her uniquely fascinating life' -- Tina Brown 'I couldn't put it down. Funny and touching - like looking through a keyhole at a lost world' -- Rupert Everett 'Anne Glenconner has written a remarkable memoir - containing, at last, a genuine portrait of Princess Margaret from one who knew her well. But this book is poignant too, and through the pages shine her courage and good-humoured acceptance of her demons and tragedies' -- Hugo Vickers 'Remarkable . . . If your jaw doesn't drop at least three times every chapter, you've not been paying proper attention' * The Sunday Times * 'A funny, sometimes tragic and disarmingly frank memoir . . . Lady in Waiting is gentle, wise, unpretentious, but above all inspiring' * The Times * 'A startling, rare, beguiling insight into a lost world of royalty and celebrity with as many tears as there are titles' * Daily Express * 'It's a total hoot - I couldn't put it down' -- Janet Street-Porter 'Marvellous book . . . one's eyes were on stalks' -- Jan Moir * Daily Mail * 'A romp of an autobiography' * The Times T2 * '[An] astounding memoir' -- India Knight * The Sunday Times Magazine * 'A candid, witty and stylish memoir' -- Miranda Seymour * Financial Times * 'An absolute hoot' * The Times * 'This memoir made me laugh, wince, cry and gasp. For anyone who craves a bracing dose of the older generation's stiff upper lip, Anne Glenconner provides it.' -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Daily Mail * 'Wonderful' -- Janice Turner * The Times * 'The insider memoir of the year' -- Julian Glover * Evening Standard * 'A remarkable life, remarkably told' * The Sunday Times * 'It's impossible not to admire her fortitude . . . funny and sometimes dazzling' -- Rachel Cooke * Observer * 'Rollicking . . . [Lady in Waiting] paints such a rich picture of the aristocracy it's impossible not to marvel at the institution, both in admiration and horror' * Sydney Morning Herald * 'This outlandish memoir drips with royal tidbits . . . but it's also insightful on the more damaging aspects of being a member of the British aristocracy. Sobering - and terrific fun' * Metro * 'The author reads her own words in indomitable fashion, and anyone who enjoyed Craig Brown's life of Glenconner's former employer, Ma'am Darling, will find this fascinating.' * Financial Times * 'This year's Ma'am Darling - the perfect book to curl up on the sofa with.' * The i * 'This riveting read will leave you open-mouthed and hungry for more.' * Sunday Post * 'Fascinating and beautifully written . . . I can't recommend [Glenconner's] book high enough' * Spectator * 'Captivating' -- Catherine Bennett * Observer * 'Beyond admirable' -- Sophie Money-Coutts * Sunday Telegraph * 'Lady in Waiting has made me laugh and cry several times. I raced through it in 4 days. Book heaven' -- Fearne Cotton 'Riveting life' -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday * 'Discretion and honour emerge as the hallmarks of Glenconner's career as a royal servant, culminating in this book which manages to be both candid and kind.' -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian * 'One of the most enjoyable books of 2019 . . . Anne Glenconner, now 87, captures a lost world in which she waited (with remarkable good grace) on Princess Margaret. Sometimes the best view of history is given by the minor characters' -- Allison Pearson * Sunday Telegraph * 'Such a moving book' -- Bella Mackie 'A riotous social document and a beautifully written account of a vivid life superbly lived' * The Critic * 'Sparkling, endearing and alarming' * Times Literary Supplement * '[Lady in Waiting] has two things going for it: the first is that it is not what it seems; it is definitely not "a lavender sort of scented memoir" . . . Its other great strength is Glenconner herself' -- Hadley Freeman * Guardian * 'Stalwart and disarmingly honest . . . emotion resonates through this delightful memoir' * The Wall Street Journal * 'Lady Glenconner displays resilience of a different kind in her memoir about the astonishing ups and downs of her artistocratic life' * Mail on Sunday * 'Funny, revelatory, poignant, occasionally jaw-dropping' * Sunday Times * 'Anne Glenconner writes with wit, generosity and courage about her life in a gilded cage ... Fascinating!' * Platinum * 'Finely drawn . . . Glenconner has an eye for detail' * London Review of Books * 'The publishing sensation of 2019, this candid, wise, witty and gossip-filled memoir by Princess Margaret's 87-year-old former lady-in-waiting (and best friend) tells the true story behind the scenes in The Crown - and reminds us that, sometimes, it's the minor characters who give us the sharpest view of history' * Daily Telegraph * 'A captivating account of a life lived with resilience and grace' * Daily Mail * 'The stoical Lady G writes with infectious joy and optimism' * Daily Express * 'If you're looking for something to read in lockdown, I can't recommend it highly enough' -- Lorraine Kelly '. . . tremendously touching. It's one of those books that make you long for bed so you can read more!' -- Jilly Cooper * Good Housekeeping * 'This funny and touching read will allow you to take a peek inside the glamorous world and volatile life of an aristocrat' * Bella *