Who was Anthony Holden? British Journalist Once Called “The Most Reviled Man in Britain” Dead at 76

Anthony Holden, a versatile and prolific British author, journalist, and poker enthusiast, whose unexpected notoriety came as a royal biographer and monarchy critic, but whose true passion lay in crafting literary works about Shakespeare, Laurence Olivier, and Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart’s librettist, has passed away at his London residence on October 7. He was 76 years old.

The cause of his demise was a brain tumor, as disclosed by his son, Ben.

Mr. Holden’s foray into royal biographies was somewhat serendipitous. While contributing to the “Atticus” column for The Sunday Times in London – a delightful blend of politics and celebrity tidbits – his journalistic journey took an unexpected turn in 1977. He was assigned to cover Prince Charles’s visit to Canada for the inauguration of the Calgary Stampede, a rodeo event. As “Atticus,” he had previously penned pieces on luminaries such as Brigitte Bardot and Rudolph Nureyev, accompanied Margaret Thatcher on her diplomatic voyage to China, and even shared a friendly, albeit unconventional, moment with Frank Sinatra, who playfully whacked him on the head with a rolled-up copy of Playboy magazine.

The royal assignment may have seemed unexciting at first, but Mr. Holden applied his talent to the task at hand. During his time with Prince Charles, the most noteworthy comment from the royal was a simple inquiry: “Married, are you? Fun, is it?”

The resulting column about this royal expedition, penned by Mr. Holden, brought amusement to both Queen Elizabeth II and her son, the future King Charles III. It was this column that led to a lucrative book deal for Anthony Holden, who was given the opportunity to craft a biography of Prince Charles. Although he found the subject less than thrilling, the allure of a £15,000 advance was impossible to resist.