Lady in Waiting

My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown

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Lady in Waiting

By: Anne Glenconner

Narrated by: Anne Glenconner

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About this listen

**OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD**

'The gossip is stupendous but it's also tremendously touching. It's one of those books that makes you long for bed so you can read more!' - JILLY COOPER

A Maid of Honour at the Queen's Coronation and former Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret, Anne Glenconner has spent her life as a friend of the royal family. In this bestselling memoir, she looks back on an extraordinary life full of glamour, drama and tragedy.

'The best royal book by miles . . . funny, gossipy and riveting' -JANE RIDLEY, SPECTATOR

'If your jaw doesn't drop at least three times every chapter, you've not been paying proper attention' - SUNDAY TIMES

The eldest child of the 5th Earl of Leicester, Anne knew as a daughter she would not inherit the family fortune and was instead brought up to secure an eligible husband. Her marriage to the charismatic Colin Tennant - later Lord Glenconner - would prove a test of every strength she possessed, while her friendship with Princess Margaret, which began in childhood, grew ever closer.

From the tragic loss of two of her grown-up sons to the cruel surprise of her late husband's final will, Lady in Waiting is Anne Glenconner's remarkable testament to the resilience and humour that define her as she emerges from the shadow of her husband and the crown, reminding us that all that glitters is not gold.

'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

'I can't recommend it highly enough' - LORRAINE KELLY

'Gentle, wise, unpretentious, but above all inspiring' - THE TIMES

'A candid, witty and stylish memoir' - MIRANDA SEYMOUR, FINANCIAL TIMES

'Stalwart and disarmingly honest . . . emotion resonates through this delightful memoir' - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

'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' - GUARDIAN

'I couldn't put it down. Funny and touching - like looking through a keyhole at a lost world.' - RUPERT EVERETT©2019 Anne Glenconner

Anne GlenconnerAnne GlenconnerHodder & Stoughton

Entertainment & Celebrities

Europe

Great Britain

Politics & Activism

Royalty

Heartfelt

Inspiring

Thought-Provoking

Funny

Celebrity

Entertainment & Celebrities Europe Great Britain Politics & Activism Royalty Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Funny Celebrity

Critic reviews

'A remarkable life, remarkably told'

'A funny, sometimes tragic and disarmingly frank memoir . . . Lady in Waiting is gentle, wise, unpretentious, but above all inspiring'

'A candid, witty and stylish memoir'

'The insider memoir of the year'

'A startling, rare, beguiling insight into a lost world of royalty and celebrity with as many tears as there are titles'

'Marvellous book . . . one's eyes were on stalks'

'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.'

'[An] astounding memoir'

'Remarkable . . . If your jaw doesn't drop at least three times every chapter, you've not been paying proper attention'

'It's a total hoot - I couldn't put it down'

'A romp of an autobiography'

'I couldn't put it down. Funny and touching - like looking through a keyhole at a lost world'

'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'

'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'

'An absolute hoot'

'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.'

'Wonderful'

'It's impossible not to admire her fortitude . . . funny and sometimes dazzling'

'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'

'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'

'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'

'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.'

'This year's Ma'am Darling - the perfect book to curl up on the sofa with.'

'This riveting read will leave you open-mouthed and hungry for more.'

'Fascinating and beautifully written . . . I can't recommend [Glenconner's] book high enough'

'Captivating'

'Beyond admirable'

'Riveting life'

Most relevant

Beautifully written, beautifully and simply ready by the author, this is funny, startling, and often deeply moving. Unusually for a memoir with lashings of royalty, it is neither a “tell-all” nor a fawning attempt at ingratiation. I’m so glad she wrote it, and sincerely hope she sticks to her plan to live to 100 and more. Pure listening pleasure.