Recent disclosures from the National Archives of the United Kingdom have unveiled previously classified MI5 documents, revealing that Queen Elizabeth II was kept unaware for nine years of her art curator Anthony Blunt's confession to espionage for the Soviet Union.
Blunt was a member of the notorious 'Cambridge Five,' a group of Soviet agents who occupied high-ranking positions within British intelligence and diplomatic circles. The newly declassified documents also shed light on the life of another member of this spy quintet, Harold 'Kim' Philby.
Art historian Anthony Blunt served as curator of the Royal Collection under Queen Elizabeth II. In 1964, he admitted to working for Soviet intelligence since the 1930s. However, the Queen was not informed of this until 1973, responding with what the documents describe as 'very calm and unsurprised.'
As part of the lead-up to a major exhibition in London, the National Archives published new documents regarding the Cambridge Five—British communists who worked for the USSR. The group included Blunt, Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean, Kim Philby, and John Cairncross, all of whom were recruited by Arnold Deutsch in the 1930s.
MI5 learned of the betrayal of Maclean and Burgess in 1951, before they fled to the USSR. Suspicions about Philby and Blunt arose around the same time. In 1955, Philby was cleared of espionage allegations, but he later confessed to a colleague in 1963 while working as a journalist in the Middle East. He subsequently defected to the Soviet Union.
Cairncross, like Blunt, confessed to working for Moscow in 1964, receiving immunity from prosecution in exchange for his admission.
Unlike other British state agencies, MI5 has the discretion to decide when and which documents to release. The National Archives periodically publishes declassified documents that add new dimensions to the history of Soviet espionage.
Blunt worked for MI5 during World War II and became the King’s (and later Queen’s) Picture Inspector in 1945, overseeing the royal collection until 1972. He was first suspected of espionage in 1951 after Burgess and Maclean's defection. Despite being interrogated multiple times, he consistently denied the allegations.
However, in 1963, American Michael Straight informed the FBI that Blunt had personally recruited him as a Soviet agent. In April 1964, MI5 investigator Arthur Martin assured Blunt of immunity from prosecution, leading to his confession. Yet, suspicions remained that he had concealed information.
The National Archives has published Blunt's confession, detailing not only his wartime activities but also his continued contact with Soviet intelligence afterward. Blunt recounted that after Burgess and Maclean's defection, a Russian named Peter encouraged him to flee, but Blunt declined, fearing repercussions from his KGB handler.
Despite his confession, only a few individuals outside MI5 were aware of Blunt's collaboration with the USSR. The Queen was not informed, as her private secretary believed it would only 'add to her concerns.' In 1973, as Blunt was diagnosed with cancer, the Queen was finally informed of his espionage.
The public learned of his betrayal only in 1979, when Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher disclosed the Cambridge Five in Parliament. Shortly thereafter, Blunt was stripped of his knighthood and passed away in 1983.
New insights into Kim Philby’s story have also emerged. He worked for MI6 while simultaneously spying for the USSR. New documents reveal details of his career, including his recruitment in the 1930s and his 1963 confession.
In a meeting with former colleague Nicholas Elliott in Beirut, Philby admitted to working for the Soviets. Transcripts of their conversations, which Elliott had secretly recorded, are among the newly released documents.
Philby recounted how he 'betrayed' KGB officer Konstantin Volkov, who attempted to defect to Britain in 1945. Philby had warned his KGB supervisor about Volkov’s intentions. Following the warning, Volkov and his wife were kidnapped by KGB agents, and their fate remains unknown.
Philby, upon returning from Istanbul, reported to MI6 that Volkov likely 'betrayed himself.' He later expressed to Elliott his despair over his own potential exposure, leading to a promise of immunity in exchange for full disclosure. However, Philby insisted he had no contacts with the KGB post-1946 and claimed Blunt never worked for the Russians.
On January 23, 1963, Philby defected to Moscow.
Additionally, the National Archives released a guide for novice 'observers'—essentially MI5 spies during World War II. The document contains tips on surveillance techniques, emphasizing the importance of blending in and avoiding detection.