Robert Lacey

Robert Lacey
Robert Lacey at Surrey County Library's speaking event in 2012
Born	(1944-01-03) 3 January 1944 (age 73)
Occupation	British historian and biographer
Years active	1964–present

Robert Lacey (born 3 January 1944) is a British historian and biographer. He is the author of a number of bestselling biographies, including those of Henry Ford,Eileen Ford and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as works of popular history.

Lacey's 1981 work The Kingdom and its 2009 follow-up Inside the Kingdom have now both been cited as standard study texts for the diplomatic community working inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. David Brancaccio said: "In Saudi Arabia, Robert Lacey had the kind of access most journalists only dream of."

In 2009 Lacey made the controversial documentary Rehab for Terrorists?: Can Terrorists be Rehabilitated with Kindness? for the Now show for the PBS channel.

This has led to Lacey being employed by American Television networks, ABC and PBS as a commentator on the subject.

Lacey is also ABC's Good Morning America royal commentator and was in London for the channel covering the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. He was also seen on the BBC's late evening coverage of the event.

Lacey is an alumnus of Bristol Grammar School and a graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge where he earned a BA in 1967, a diploma of education in 1967, and an MA in 1970. He began his writing career as a journalist on the Illustrated London News, and later The Sunday Times.

His first marriage to Alexandra Jane "Sandi" Avrach ended in 2004 in a legal separation after 34 years and three children - Sasha, Scarlett and Bruno. In August 2012 Lacey remarried to Lady Jane Rayne (b. 11 August 1932), the daughter of the 8th Marquess of Londonderry, and widow of property developer Max Rayne. She was a charity worker in the east end of London, and later with the Chiswick Women’s Shelter and the Chickenshed Theatre Company. She also served as maid of honour at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.