Spying on the Royals: Is this the most controversial surveillance in British history?
SPYING ON THE ROYALS began on Channel 4 tonight, with newly available evidence of Royal spying revealed.
Home Secretary said to have ordered the spying of the royals
Blowing the lid on one of Britain's most controversial espionage operations ever, the programme explored how spies targeted and tailed the Royal family.
Tapping their phone calls, British spies targeted Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson and George VI.
New evidence revealed the extent of the surveillance, who ordered it, and the unique insights it provided into the royal scandal.
A state secret for almost 80 years, the files at The National Archives in Kew were finally made public.
It's a truly remarkable document. It's sensitive almost beyond words. It raises real issue about the extent and authority constitutionally of cabinet ministers to order surveillance
One historian said: "It's a truly remarkable document. It's sensitive almost beyond words. It raises real issue about the extent and authority constitutionally of cabinet ministers to order surveillance.
"Edward thought his calls were safe but MI5s boss put his finest recruit on the job, Tar Robertson. He was the first person to hear that the king was going to abdicate and hand over to his brother George."
Was Downing Street justified in monitoring the Royal Family?
One viewer tweeted: "There is a really interesting programme on C4 now. Spying on the Royals. About surveillance of the Duke of Windsor (aka Edward VIII)."
"Spying on the royals channel 4. Ya welcome," posted another as a third wrote: "Watching fascinating programme on @Channel4 'Spying on the Royals' while I do a bit of work!"
However, not all viewers were impressed with the documentary, with one simply putting: "Spying on the Royals on Channel 4. What. Utter. Sh**e."
Another tweeted: "That spying on the royals documentary has really annoying fake scratched film effects on short loop," as a third posted: "Ch 4. Spying on the Royals. The material in first 30 mins is all exactly like Guardian article of 2003. So NOTHING NEW at all. Out of date!"
Next week's episode will cover American spies tapping Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson's phone and how they placed listening bugs in their room. It will also explore how Edward and Wallis visited a known Nazi collaborator in Lisbon in 1940, under covert surveillance.
Spying on the Royals continues on Channel 4 next Sunday at 8pm.