The Sphinx - Gladys Deacon, by Hugo Vickers followed by 'Let's Misbehave' Afternoon Tea

Travel back in time to the Roaring Twenties as Blenheim Palace invites you to bring young things to a magnificent party celebrating this famously decadent decade. 

This event will be a fascinating insight into the heady world of the upper classes in a time of great social, artistic and political change.

This ticket includes a talk by Gladys Deacon biographer, Hugo Vickers, followed by Let's Misbehave Afternoon Tea in The Orangery Restaurant.

Hugo Vickers is well known as a biographer, lecturer and broadcaster, and is an acknowledged expert on the Royal Family. His first book was about Gladys Deacon, Duchess of Marlborough (1881-1977), in whom he became interested when he was 16 years old.   When he was 23, he found the Duchess in the psychogeriatric ward of a mental hospital and talked to her for two years until her death at the age of 96.  He researched in Europe and America and published Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough in 1979.  Because there is considerably more material available 40 years on, he has revised this book for a new edition which has been published in 2020 and entitled The Sphinx. 

He is called upon to commentate on important state occasions, and at times when the Royal Family are in the news. He has covered events from the first wedding of the Prince of Wales, the funeral of Diana, and the Queen Mother, and the recent royal weddings.  The Financial Times recently described him as: ‘the most knowledgeable royal biographer on the planet.’

General Information

Timings: The talk start time will be 14:30/15:00 lasting for up to one hour in the Indian room, this will be followed by afternoon tea in the Orangery restaurant. 

Admissions: This package does not include admissions to the Palace or the gardens and is only for the talk and the afternoon tea, but you do have access to the parklands. 

Dietary/Special requirements: we can cater for a variety of dietary and allergy requirements such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian. When making your booking you will be able to declare any dietary information during the checkout process. If you have a specific requirement that you would like to discuss with us, please contact us directly.