Queen Elizabeth II Unaware of Senior Courtier's Treachery for a Decade

Queen Elizabeth II remained unaware of the treachery of a high-ranking palace official for nearly a decade, according to newly declassified documents. Anthony Blunt, the royal family's chief art curator, lived a double life as a Soviet spy. Despite his espionage activities, he was knighted by the Queen.

The documents, released by Britain's National Archives, shed light on the Cold War scandal that captivated historians and inspired popular culture. Blunt confessed to his involvement in the Cambridge Five spy ring in 1964, but the Queen was not informed until 1973. His true identity was eventually revealed to the public by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1979.

Security services closely guarded Blunt's identity due to his prominent position. The Queen's private secretary was only informed that MI5 intended to interrogate Blunt due to his ties to another spy who had fled to the Soviet Union.

Historian Chris Smith believes that the events reveal more about the state's inability to prosecute Blunt than a deliberate attempt to keep the Queen in the dark. Informing the Queen or anyone else could have been defamatory and embarrassing.

By the time Blunt's espionage activities were revealed, he had become a respected figure in the establishment. Concealing the information allowed the palace to truthfully deny that the Queen had any knowledge of his activities, shielding her from personal embarrassment.