Robert Lacey (born 3 January 1944) is a British historian and biographer. He is the author of a number of bestselling biographies, including those of Henry Ford and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as works of popular history. Lacey’s 1981 work The Kingdom and its 2009 follow-up Inside the Kingdom have now both been cited as standard study texts for the diplomatic community working inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This has led to Lacey being employed by American Television networks, ABC and PBS as a commentator on the subject. In 2009 Lacey made the controversial documentary “Rehab for Terrorists?: Can terrorists be rehabilitated with kindness?” for the ‘Now’ show for the PBS channel. Lacey is also ABC's Good Morning America Royal commentator and was in London for the channel covering the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. He was also seen on the BBC’s late evening coverage of the event. David Brancaccio said: "In Saudi Arabia, Robert Lacey had the kind of access most journalists only dream of." Lacey is an alumnus of Bristol Grammar School and a graduate of Selwyn College in the University of Cambridge where he earned a B.A. in 1967, a diploma of education in 1967, and an M.A. in 1970.[4] He began his writing career as a journalist on the Illustrated London News, and later The Sunday Times.