The Profumo Affair: The Tale of Two Women

For those who remember the Profumo Affair which almost brought down the Conservative Government of Harold Macmillan, the pivotal role was played by a prostitute, the stunning Christine Keeler. However her flatmate, Mandy Rice-Davies, who was not quite as stunning, also rose to prominence due to her lifestyle which was intertwined with that of Keeler. What would happen to each woman after this potentially life changing event?

Background

The fate of John Profumo, the philandering Secretary of State for War in the Harold Macmillan Conservative Government is well known. After initially denying any personal impropriety with a prostitute, the stunning Christine Keeler, in 1961, he eventually resigned some two weeks later.

How did this brief affair become public knowledge two years after its termination and why did an extra-marital affair cause such anguish at the time?

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