LONDON — Newly declassified documents have revealed that Queen Elizabeth II was not informed about the dual life of her long-time art adviser, Anthony Blunt, who was also a Soviet spy. Palace officials chose to withhold this distressing information to spare her further worries, according to these records released by the UK’s National Archives.
These files from the MI5 intelligence agency provide fresh insights into a spy network connected to Cambridge University in the 1930s, which relayed sensitive information to the Soviet Union from within the UK’s intelligence community. Blunt served as the Surveyor of the Queen’s Pictures at Buckingham Palace and remained under suspicion for several years before he confessed in 1964. At that time, he admitted that he had shared classified information with Soviet operatives while he held a high-ranking position at MI5 during World War II.
Within one of the newly disclosed files, an MI5 agent noted that Blunt expressed considerable relief at disclosing his secrets. In exchange for his cooperation, Blunt was permitted to retain his prestigious position, knighthood, and social status, all while the Queen remained unaware of his activities. In 1972, Martin Charteris, the Queen’s private secretary, communicated to MI5’s director, Michael Hanley, that informing the Queen would only add to her concerns and that there was little that could be done regarding Blunt’s situation.
The decision was made in 1973 to bring the information to the monarch’s attention, as Blunt’s health was declining. Officials were worried about potential media fallout once Blunt passed away and reporters could publish revelations without the risk of libel. Reports indicate that the Queen reacted calmly and without surprise to the news, recalling that Blunt had previously been under suspicion in the early 1950s. Historian Christopher Andrew has noted that she had already received some information about Blunt’s activities in vague terms.
Blunt was ultimately exposed as a spy by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during a session of Parliament in November 1979. Although he lost his knighthood, he was never charged with any crimes and passed away in 1983 at the age of 75. Documents kept by the UK’s intelligence agencies typically remain classified for many years; however, there is a gradual shift towards transparency. Some of the newly released materials will be showcased in an exhibit titled “MI5: Official Secrets,” which is set to open at the National Archives in London later this year.
The Cambridge spy network also included Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess, who escaped to Russia in 1951, and Kim Philby, who continued working for MI6 despite growing suspicion. In January 1963, Philby was confronted in Beirut by Nicholas Elliott, a fellow MI6 officer. The declassified files include Philby’s typewritten confession and a transcript of his conversation with Elliott, revealing his betrayal of KGB officer Konstantin Volkov, who attempted to defect in 1945. Due to Philby’s actions, Volkov was captured in Istanbul and ultimately executed in Moscow.
According to the transcript, Philby expressed that if he had the opportunity to relive his life, he would likely act the same way. He stated, “I really did feel a tremendous loyalty to MI6. I was treated very, very well in it and I made some really marvelous friends there. But the overruling inspiration was the other side.” Faced with the reality of being exposed, Philby felt he had only two options: suicide or prosecution. Ultimately, he chose to escape to Moscow, where he lived until his death in 1988.
The saga of the Cambridge spies has inspired numerous literary and cinematic adaptations, including the recent series “A Spy Among Friends,” featuring Guy Pearce as Philby and Damian Lewis as Elliott, as well as a portrayal of Blunt in a 2019 episode of “The Crown,” depicted by actor Samuel West.
