False rumours of royal infidelity and the Queen Mother’s £7MILLION overdraft: New documentary claims to expose the troubles faced by the Queen throughout her reign 

  • Channel 5 documentary reveals the domestic issues the Queen has faced 
  • Unveils the bad press Prince Phillip faced after rumours of an affair emerged 
  • Reveals the Queen Mother was left in debt after throwing lavish parties 

They are Britain's most famous family but unlike the Kardashians the Royal's private lives are often kept under lock and key.

However, a new documentary claims to give a never before seen insight into the domestic trials a young Queen Elizabeth faced after taking the throne.

Inside Windsor Castle, a programme from Channel 5, suggests that the Queen was faced with marriage woes after her coronation.

A new documentary from Channel 5 has revealed the family trials that Queen Elizabeth faced after taking the throne. Pictured: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with Charles and Anne

A new documentary from Channel 5 has revealed the family trials that Queen Elizabeth faced after taking the throne. Pictured: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with Charles and Anne

In 1952, the keys to Windsor Castle were handed to Elizabeth Windsor, 26, who set about turning her private apartment within the castle into a family home.

Professor of History Kate Williams said 'she wanted to make it a family home. A relaxed home and far less stuffy and that's exactly what she did'. 

However, as Elizabeth settled into her royal duties her husband Prince Philip grew increasingly frustrated, the documentary suggests. 

Feeling he had no place in the state affairs that kept his wife busy, the Queen found a solution on the castle’s doorstep, and in appointing Philip to be Ranger of Windsor Great Park, he took charge of 4,800 acres of parkland, farms and golf courses.

After being appointed to be Ranger of Windsor Great Park Phillip created a polo course and  became enthralled with the sport spending tax payers money to travel the globe to play. Pictured playing in Windsor Park

After being appointed to be Ranger of Windsor Great Park Phillip created a polo course and became enthralled with the sport spending tax payers money to travel the globe to play. Pictured playing in Windsor Park

It was while he was away that foreign newspapers began to report that Prince Phillip (pictured) was having affairs 

It was while he was away that foreign newspapers began to report that Prince Phillip (pictured) was having affairs 

While her plan to keep him busy worked a charm it was not in the way the Queen had expected. 

Philip became obsessed with polo and converted a disused airstrip in Windsor Great Park into one of the finest polo grounds in the world, which led to more trouble. 

Historian Dr Piers Brendon tells viewers: 'He used his official position to make the county pay for his jaunts to polo and the treasury got very very cross about this.'

It wasn't long before the press became aware of Phillip's rumoured antics, and in 1956 American and Australian papers began printing allegations that Phillip was having affairs.

Although no evidence has ever been produced to suggest that Phillip was unfaithful, historians have speculated that something caused a stir in the royal marriage.

The Queen Mother also proved to cause problems after she was forced to move to the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park, when she began to spend thousands on lavish parties

The Queen Mother also proved to cause problems after she was forced to move to the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park, when she began to spend thousands on lavish parties

Upon her death in March 2002 the Queen Mother was sitting on an overdraft of £7 million, according to Channel 5's Inside Windsor Castle

Upon her death in March 2002 the Queen Mother was sitting on an overdraft of £7 million, according to Channel 5's Inside Windsor Castle

Dr Brendon continued: '[It] seems to be fairly clear that there was some kind of breakdown and of course lots of rumours of infidelity.

'None of which have stood up but it must be said the Duke of Edinbugh had lots of opportunities to misbehave.' 

To put an end to the bad press the Queen, on the suggestion of advisors, sent Phillip away from the castle on the Royal Yacht Britannia in what the documentary refers to as 'exile'.

However, the Queen was then said to be facing further difficulties - reportedly this time created by her mother.

Lady Colin Campbell (pictured) says that there are many who would say the Queen Mother wasn't sober 

Lady Colin Campbell (pictured) says that there are many who would say the Queen Mother wasn't sober 

Following the death of her husband King George VI, the Queen Mother was no longer permitted to live inside Windsor Castle. 

Luckily, Windsor has its own annex in the garden—the luxurious and secluded Royal Lodge—and there the Queen Mother quickly made herself at home.

No longer tasked with royal duties the Queen Mother began holding lavish parties in the lodge.

Lady Colin Campbell revealed that the Queen Mother rejoiced in her new freedom.

Speaking in the documentary she says: 'When the Queen Mother re-entered public life she did it with a bang while other dowager queens had done it with a whimper. 

'And she continued banging until she died.'

Experts have described the royals' parties as 'Victorian gluttony', with drinks served from 7pm and bottles of £300 vintage champagne flowing throughout the evening.

The Queen Mother is thought to have bought so much Veuve Cliquot that she was the company’s largest private customer, the documentary says. 

Lady Campbell adds: 'She was never known to be drunk but there were those who would say that she was never ever completely sober.' 

However, her extravagance came at a cost. Upon her death in March 2002 the Queen Mother was said to be sitting on an overdraft of £7 million.

The Dowager Queen was given an annual allowance of around one million from tax payers but she she overspent every year - sometimes as much as six times over the allotted amount. 

While this kind of news would have spelled disaster for the Queen, the documentary recounts how she confined the secrets of her mother's spending habits to the Lodge while paying off her debts.

Inside Windsor Castle is on tonight at 8pm on Channel 5. 

AND THE FILM THE QUEEN NEVER WANTED YOU TO SEE 

Through the '60s, the Royals played happy families at Windsor, but the world outside was changing beyond recognition. 

The Queen’s solution was to give herself and her family starring roles in a huge documentary and show how normal they were. 

‘Royal Family’ was two hours long and had a huge audience. However, the Queen reportedly hated it and it has not been seen since 1969.

Family viewing: The Queen - along with her corgis - sitting next to Andrew and Edward to watch TV at Sandringham in 1969

Family viewing: The Queen - along with her corgis - sitting next to Andrew and Edward to watch TV at Sandringham in 1969

Channel 5's documentary gives a sneak peak into the family film, which sees the royals watching the television, reading books and even popping to the shops.

It was in 1968 that Lord Mountbatten’s son-in-law, the film producer Lord Brabourne, felt the Royal Family would benefit from being viewed by the public as more modern and informal.

This view was shared by the Queen’s ambitious young Australian press secretary, William Heseltine. 

The Queen with one of her corgis at Buckingham Palace while discussing what outfit to wear that evening in 1969 

The Queen with one of her corgis at Buckingham Palace while discussing what outfit to wear that evening in 1969 

Brabourne suggested to Prince Philip that a documentary should be made about the Royal Family’s private life -recommending that Richard Cawston, then head of the BBC’s documentary department, should direct the film.

The Queen had considerable reservations. The Queen Mother was vehemently opposed to the plan and told friends she thought it was ‘the most ­terrible idea’.

In the end, it was Prince Philip’s uncle, Lord Mountbatten — who was, disastrously, to become Prince Charles’s principal mentor — who talked the Queen into authorising the film.

Cawston was given full access to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham and Balmoral for more than a year, shooting 43 hours of raw ­footage of the Queen’s private and official life.

The final version, cut down to a 105-minute colour ­documentary, entitled Royal Family — but mischievously rechristened Corgi And Beth by satirists — was screened to a worldwide audience of 40 million on June 21, 1969, just ahead of the investiture of Charles as Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle. 

The Queen was seen having breakfast, making banal small-talk with America’s President Nixon (‘world problems are so complex, aren’t they, now?’), and regaling Philip, Charles and Princess Anne with an anecdote about Queen Victoria’s ‘incredible control’ when, at a Durbar, an Oriental potentate fell over and shot towards the throne feet-first.

There was a barbecue scene at a Balmoral, the Queen's holiday home in Scotland, when the Queen and Charles prepared a salad while Philip and Anne grilled sausages and steaks. 

Philip’s comments on his father-in-law King George VI, ‘He had very odd habits,’ said Philip. ‘Sometimes I thought he was mad.’ 

The Queen, who was supposed never to carry money, was in the film seen buying sweets in a shop for her four-year-old son Edward.      

 

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