One royal relationship crying out for some proper drama
Between flicking through bridal magazines and swotting for her British citizenship test, I wonder if Meghan Markle found time to tune into Channel 5 last night.
Had she watched Wallis: The Queen That Never Was she might have been thanking her lucky stars she wasn’t around 80 years ago.
This docudrama told the story of twice-divorced Baltimore socialite Wallis Simpson, who infamously fell for the then Prince of Wales, Edward, in the 1930s. When he became king in 1936, he was determined to marry her but the Government opposed his plan and he gave up his throne for love.
It was the biggest royal scandal of the century. Wallis was firmly blamed – and subsequently vilified – by the establishment. It was even rumoured that the Queen Mother nicknamed her “That Woman”.
This film sought to tell the real story of Wallis’s life and, to its credit, the docu side of things was well done.
It was particularly nice to see Lady Colin Campbell on telly again – although it did make me think how much I’m A Celeb is missing a character like her in camp this year.
Unfortunately, the drama let the side down. The acting was so OTT at times I almost spat my tea out when, during one heated phone call, Wallis (Georgina Rich) told Edward (Alex Avery): “Darling please. Be realistic.” Realism?
Half-an-hour longer and Edward would’ve been singing Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up down the phone.