There was talk not so long ago about Prince Charles abdicating the throne of the United Kingdom before he had become entitled to it, in order to marry the wife of another man. His friends hinted to the press that his love for Camilla Parker-Bowles was so deep, so enduring and profound that he might make that sacrifice if the government and British people demanded it.
It had happened before, after all, so it did not seem such a ridiculous prospect. In 1936 Edward VIII told his subjects he preferred Wallis over anything else, and disappeared to live a rather ridiculous life of endless social engagements and parties. He and Wallis made a profession out of the one thing all royals are really good at: dressing up in expensive outfits, and whiled away the next 40 years aimlessly but never embarrassing his family again.
Or so we have been led to believe. But several years ago Britain's Channel 4 made a brilliant documentary called Edward: The Traitor King (World, 2.15pm) which seemed to prove that marrying Wallis was the least of his indiscretions. He made little secret before abdication of his admiration for Hitler and Nazi Germany, and after leaving Britain, he continued to do so.
So much so, according to this thoroughly convincing series, that he was leaking them information even after World War II had started. Hitler had promised him he would be restored to the British throne when the Nazis overran the UK, and Edward believed him.
So how far did he go to make this particular dream come true? According to Channel 4, much too far, and when the British authorities finally cottoned on to how the Nazis were getting hold of secret information, they bundled him and the horrified Wallis off to the Bahamas.
Sean Connery doesn't play bad guys very often. His speciality recently has been playing wise older men who teach young whipper snappers the true way. But back in 1972 he played a very bad, very sad man indeed in this afternoon's movie, The Offence (Pearl, 1.50pm). He plays a worn-out policeman who has been embittered by years of fighting violence and brutality on the streets, who finally snaps when he has to interrogate a possible child molester (great performance by Ian Bannen).
