Prince Philip’s name appeared in top-secret FBI documents concerning one of the most notorious British s*x scandals of all time: the Profumo affair, according to the Mail on Sunday.
These documents indicate that the FBI had heard rumors that Prince Philip—Queen Elizabeth II’s husband—was “involved” with two women central to the early 1960s scandal that eventually led to the downfall of a government.
The scandal revolved around Britain’s Secretary of State for War John Profumo’s five-month affair with model Christine Keeler, who was also involved with Russian naval attaché Eugene Ivanov. The Profumo scandal set a precedent for modern s*x scandals, intertwining government, espionage, and s*xual intrigue in early-1960s London.
During the trial of osteopath Stephen Ward, who introduced Keeler to Profumo and Ivanov, Keeler’s friend Mandy Rice-Davies famously retorted, when informed that Lord Astor denied having an affair with her, “Well, he would, wouldn’t he?” This line became iconic, encapsulating the public’s skepticism of the powerful.
The FBI documents, as reported by the Mail on Sunday, reveal that Prince Philip was rumored to have connections to both Keeler and Rice-Davies. Thomas Corbally, a U.S. businessman involved in industrial espionage, made the claim about Philip, according to a memo written by then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover: “Corbally also stated there was a rumor Prince Philip may have been involved with these two girls.”
The exact details of what the FBI files say about Philip remain unknown, but an episode of “The Crown” speculates on his potential involvement. The show depicts Queen Elizabeth being informed that Ward had drawn Philip, suggesting Philip was a frequent guest at Ward’s gatherings. However, as Clive Irving wrote for The Daily Beast in 2018, the reality is far less sensational than portrayed in the series. MI5, the UK’s domestic counter-intelligence agency, was reportedly keen to keep Philip’s name out of the scandal.
Stephen Ward was also a member of the infamous Thursday Club, which Philip co-founded with Lieutenant Commander Michael Parker. Miles Kington described this group in a 1996 Independent article as “the gang of cronies that the Duke of Edinburgh used to gather round him in the 1950s to have a bit of fun away from his serious life at Buckingham Palace.”
The “Mystery Man” episode of “The Crown” highlights the unknown identity of a man in a photograph at a party and Queen Elizabeth’s realization that she may not truly know her husband. In a tense confrontation, Philip (played by Matt Smith) vehemently denies any wrongdoing, while the Queen (Claire Foy) laments, “Half the time I don’t know where you are, or what you’re doing.”
Ward committed suicide a few days before being found guilty on charges of living off the earnings of prostitution. Corbally believed Ward was a convenient scapegoat for the misdeeds of the elite.
As “The Crown” illustrates, this era saw the rise of satire targeting the rich and powerful, exemplified by shows like “Beyond the Fringe.” The scandal also contributed to the downfall of Harold Macmillan’s Conservative government, leading to a Labour victory in the 1964 general election.
What Prince Philip did or didn’t do, and whether he was the “Mystery Man,” has never been conclusively established. However, the Tory party has continued to produce scandal after scandal since.
In other royal news, King Charles is reportedly planning an “extended” summer stay at Balmoral as he continues to receive cancer treatment. Despite a busy recent schedule, Charles intends to enjoy a longer stay at the family’s Scottish retreat, following a tradition set by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth.