Anthony Holden Obituary

Anthony Holden, who has passed away at the age of 76 due to a brain tumor, embarked on his journalistic journey in 1973 when he was recruited by Harold Evans as a home and foreign reporter for the Sunday Times. This marked the inception of a career that saw him evolve into a correspondent, feature writer, and editor for various sections of national publications.

His early recognition materialized in the form of a 1976 British Press award, acknowledging his exceptional coverage of events in Northern Ireland. The following year, Evans appointed Tony as the editor of the Atticus diary column, where he garnered the prestigious columnist award. Holden’s writing was consistently impeccable, and he possessed the knack of transforming any encounter with notable figures into a finely tuned anecdote.

Holden’s wry and insightful profiles of the then Prince of Wales paved the way for his inaugural venture into royal family literature with “Charles, Prince of Wales” in 1979. He continued to explore this subject with his second biography, “Charles,” published in 1988, which candidly exposed the void in the marriage between the future king and Diana, causing consternation within the palace.

In 1979, Tony ventured to Washington, assuming the role of US editor for the Observer. It was there that he reconnected with fellow writers Christopher Hitchens and Martin Amis, who had been his contemporaries during his time as a student at Oxford.

However, in 1981, Holden found himself back under the guidance of Evans, now as the features editor and assistant editor of the Times. Evans envisioned Tony as his successor, but neither of them anticipated the influential sway of Rupert Murdoch. When Murdoch acquired the Times and Sunday Times in 1981, he made it clear that the papers would staunchly support Margaret Thatcher and her policies. When Murdoch terminated Evans in 1982, Tony resigned in solidarity.

From that point onward, Anthony Holden pursued a career as a freelance journalist, with notable roles as a columnist for the Daily Mail and Daily Express. He also continued his journey as an author, crafting various works. In the period of 1985-86, he took on the role of executive editor of Today, overseeing the Sunday edition of this mid-market tabloid, which had been launched by regional press entrepreneur Eddy Shah.