Barbara Griggs

John Edward Poynder Grigg, who held the title of 2nd Baron Altrincham from 1955 until disclaiming it in 1963, was a British writer and historian. He inherited the title from his father, Edward Grigg, the 1st Baron Altrincham. Grigg's father had also edited the National and English Review, a publication that John Grigg later took over and shaped according to his own perspectives.

Grigg's career included a stint as a journalist and a brief foray into politics as a liberal Tory, though he was unsuccessful in his attempts to be elected to the House of Commons. A significant moment in his public life was his 1957 article "The Monarchy Today," published in the National and English Review. In this piece, he controversially suggested that Queen Elizabeth II's court was too insular and advocated for a more diverse and "classless" royal entourage. This critique led to public backlash, including a physical assault, but also garnered support from some quarters.

As a historian, Grigg's most substantial undertaking was a multi-volume biography of Prime Minister David Lloyd George, which remained unfinished at the time of his death. He also disclaimed his hereditary peerage under the Peerage Act of 1963, aligning with his opposition to hereditary seats in Parliament.

John Grigg, the 2nd Baron Altrincham, inherited the editorship of the National and English Review from his father, who had also served as its editor. Grigg steered the publication towards his own viewpoints, which included challenging the status quo. Politically, he identified as a liberal Tory and later supported the Anti-Apartheid Movement. He attempted to gain a seat in the House of Commons in the 1951 and 1955 general elections but was unsuccessful. Following his father's death in 1955, he inherited the peerage, which would have barred him from standing for the Commons. However, he chose to disclaim his title in 1963 under the Peerage Act, expressing his opposition to hereditary parliamentary seats. Grigg also advocated for reforms within the Church of England, including the introduction of women priests, and criticized the Conservative government's handling of the Suez Crisis.

In August 1957, Grigg published an article titled "The Monarchy Today" in the National and English Review. In it, he expressed his views on Queen Elizabeth II and her court, suggesting that the royal circle was too limited in its social and national background. He proposed that the court should be more representative of the entire Commonwealth and various social strata. Grigg also commented on the Queen's public speaking style, likening it to that of a "priggish schoolgirl." This article generated significant controversy, leading to widespread criticism from the press and public figures, including the Archbishop of Canterbury. Grigg faced a physical assault, where he was slapped in public. Despite the backlash, he maintained that his intention was to serve the monarchy by fostering a more relevant and accessible image, and stated he was not repentant for his criticisms, believing they were necessary and true. He also felt the Queen's natural voice was being obscured by a "synthetic creature."

As a historian, John Grigg dedicated himself to writing a comprehensive four-volume biography of the prominent British Prime Minister David Lloyd George. This extensive project was his most significant historical undertaking. However, by the time of his death on December 31, 2001, he had only managed to complete the biography up to the end of the First World War in 1918. Grigg's relationship with his inherited title, Baron Altrincham, was complex. He held the title from 1955 until 1963, when he formally disclaimed it under the Peerage Act. This action was motivated by his firm belief that hereditary positions in Parliament were inappropriate. He noted that disclaiming the title required him to change his name again, a process he found inconvenient but honor-bound.

“That is like saying that an art critic is anti-art. I love the monarchy. Constitutional monarchy is Britain's greatest invention.”

“You did a great service to the monarchy and I'm glad to say so publicly.”

“We the elected representatives of the ratepayers of this Ancient Town of Altrincham present at this informal meeting most strongly deplore the article written by Lord Altrincham and wish to completely disassociate this borough from the comments and statements contained in that article. At the same time we desire that it should be known by her Majesty the Queen that no town has a greater sense of loyalty and devotion to the Crown than the borough of Altrincham.”

“Take that from the League of Empire Loyalists.”

“There was no strength behind the blow. I have not had to have any attention. There were quite a lot of bystanders who saw this happen. They all seemed tremendously friendly towards me.”