Record revealed
Princess Anne's betrayal of her father, James II

This letter, sent by Princess Anne during the height of the Glorious Revolution, confirmed the betrayal of her father, King James II.
Discover the stories behind the collection. Learn about the people, places and events featured in our records.
Record revealed
This letter, sent by Princess Anne during the height of the Glorious Revolution, confirmed the betrayal of her father, King James II.
Step into the hidden world of espionage and read extraordinary spy stories from our new exhibition in partnership with MI5.
The story of
When can a lemon have fatal consequences? If it proves you are, in fact, a wartime spy…
The story of
Security Service files paint a vivid picture of what happened when Anthony Blunt – then employed in the royal household – admitted spying for the Soviet Union.
The story of
A life of charm, high-stakes, and duplicity saw Elvira Chaudoir play a cunning role in the Allied victory at D-Day.
Browse and explore the human stories behind The National Archives’ collection.
Record revealed
This report provides an eyewitness account of the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the end of the Second World War.
Record revealed
This volume offers a glimpse of the numerous ‘Black Loyalists’ who seized the American Revolutionary War as a chance to gain freedom from enslavement.
Record revealed
These intricate 1716 drawings were submitted by Sybilla Masters in the final stage of securing a patent for machinery for 'cleaning and curing Indian corn'.
Focus on
The government tried to keep the details of the Bethnal Green Tube shelter disaster of 1943 private – but a court case brought the terrible story to light.
Focus on
Records from the 1930s describe attempts to police sexual activities between men in public toilets – and officers’ thoughts on when to enforce the rules.
The story of
Sophia Duleep Singh (1876–1948) was an Indian princess and a formidable figure in the women's suffrage movement.
Focus on
Pre-trial statements from this 1776 dispute between the Chevalier d’Eon and Charles de Morande provide intricate details about these two French spies.
The story of
Security Service files paint a vivid picture of what happened when Anthony Blunt – then employed in the royal household – admitted spying for the Soviet Union.
Focus on
Records in our collection show how same-sex personal adverts published in the 1960s become part of a high-profile legal battle.
The story of
When can a lemon have fatal consequences? If it proves you are, in fact, a wartime spy…
Focus on
Following the Napoleonic Wars, smuggling became a major concern for the British government.
Record revealed
This letter, sent by Princess Anne during the height of the Glorious Revolution, confirmed the betrayal of her father, King James II.