Crown, cloak, and dagger : the British monarchy and secret intelligence from Victoria to Elizabeth II / Richard J. Aldrich and Rory Cormac.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Aldrich, Richard J. (Richard James), 1961- author.

Cormac, Rory, author.

Series:

Georgetown studies in intelligence history

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Intelligence service--Great Britain--History.

Intelligence service.

Monarchy--Great Britain--History.

Monarchy.

Queens--Great Britain--History.

Queens.

Great Britain--Kings and rulers--History.

Great Britain.

Kings and rulers.

Genre:

History

Physical Description:

vii, 421 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (chiefly color), genealogy table, portraits (chiefly color) ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : Georgetown University Press, [2023]

Summary:

"Richard J. Aldrich and Rory Cormac reveal the remarkable relationship between the British Royal Family and the intelligence community, from the reign of Queen Victoria, through two world wars and the Cold War, to the present day. Based on painstaking archival research, the authors have uncovered a wealth of detail that changes our understanding of the role of the monarch in modern British politics, intelligence, and international relations. Far from being a dry tome, on page after page Crown, Cloak, and Dagger offers surprising revelations and stories of intrigue. The book begins with the reign of Queen Victoria, when persistent attempts to assassinate her demanded the creation of security services. Successive queens and kings have all played an active role in steering British intelligence, sometimes running parallel networks against the wishes of prime ministers. Even today, Queen Elizabeth II receives "copy No.1" of every intelligence report and likely knows more state secrets than any person alive. This book demonstrates that even in the era of constitutional monarchy, queens and kings continue to be far more than figureheads of state. Crown, Cloak, and Dagger is a fascinating and fast-paced history that will inform as well as entertain anyone with an interest in history, espionage, and the Royal Family"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Queen Victoria : Assassins and Revolutionaries

Queen Victoria's Secrets : War and the Rise of Germany

Queen Victoria's Great Game : Empire and Intrigue

Queen Victoria's Security : Anarchists and Fenians

Edward VII and the Modernization of Intelligence

King George V and the First World War

King George V and the Bolsheviks

Abdication : Spying on Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

Outbreak of the Second World War

War in the Americas, 1941-1942

The end of the Second World War, 1943-1945

Queen Elizabeth II : Coronation and Cold War

Queen Elizabeth's Empire : Intrigue in the Middle East

The Global Queen

Terrorists and Lunatics, 1969-1977

Terrorists and Lunatics, 1979-1984

The Diana Conspiracy Conclusion : The Secret Royals.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Aldrich, Richard J. (Richard James), 1961- Crown, cloak, and dagger

ISBN:

9781647123710

1647123712

OCLC:

1376915458