The Spy Who Had The Queen’s Ear (Press, 13 May 1989)

In his book "Mask of Treachery," John Costello provides a thorough examination of Anthony Blunt's life and his involvement in Soviet espionage, framed as the first comprehensive dossier on this subject. The book builds on existing knowledge about known spies like Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, and Guy Burgess, while utilising the American Freedom of Information Act to introduce new insights regarding Blunt, who was infamously exposed as a traitor by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1979. Born into a well-off clergy family and educated at prestigious institutions, Blunt appeared well-positioned for a successful future, having graduated with first-class honours in modern languages. However, he gravitated towards communism during his time at Cambridge University in the 1920s and 1930s, which was a hotbed for Communist recruiting. His involvement in this ideology was motivated by a desire for power and a sense of belonging, particularly within the homosexual community at Cambridge, which faced societal repression at the time. During World War II, despite his communist affiliations, Blunt managed to secure a position in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), where he had access to classified documents that he subsequently passed on to the Soviet Union. Post-war, Blunt leveraged his expertise in art to recover pieces looted by the Nazis, while simultaneously performing sensitive tasks for the Royal Family, including an investigation that could have implicated the Duke of Windsor in negotiations with Hitler. Costello suggests that Blunt's multifaceted roles provided him with considerable leverage, making him a key figure for both Soviet intelligence and the monarchy, allowing him to evade prosecution when his betrayal was finally uncovered. With his deep knowledge of royal secrets, Blunt became essentially "fireproof." His ultimate exposure came via a Soviet defector, leading to a confession that remained largely under wraps until Thatcher's revelation. Blunt's death in 1983 ended a remarkable yet treacherous chapter in British history, marked by Draconian secrecy and government efforts to suppress details around the activities of spies. Costello adeptly outlines how Blunt's deceptive dual identity allowed him to navigate and manipulate both the intelligence community and royal circles over two decades. Edwards concludes that while "Mask of Treachery" sheds light on Blunt's espionage activities, it also highlights the persistent ambiguity surrounding British intelligence operations, urging caution in fully accepting any claims regarding what the government has disclosed. Costello's findings suggest that Blunt was more integral to Soviet operations than previously understood, leaving open the question of what future investigations might reveal about the legacy of espionage in Britain.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand