Joan isn’t quite correct when she teases Moneypenny about the British Prime Minister having affairs with prostitutes, on two levels.

As he corrects her, it was their Secretary of War, John Profumo, and technically, Christine Keeler was a showgirl, not a prostitute.

However, what came to be known as the “Profumo Affair” was steeped in intrigue. It came to light that Keeler had not only had an affair with Profumo, but also with Yevgeny Ivanov, a senior attache at the Soviet embassy. When in 1963 Profumo admitted he had lied to the House of Commons about not having an affair with Keeler, he resigned his cabinet position and rumors of investigation for treason circulated. He was never prosecuted, but suspicion of Keeler still remains.

Apparently, under questioning, the poorly educated lower-class girl used the technical term “nuclear payload” in regard to missiles. This term was not in general use, and the MI5 agent who interviewed her was convinced Ivanov had used her to get information from Profumo. The case was dropped after the government released an official report, and both Profumo and Keeler went on their merry ways. 

• footnote - by Natasha Simons

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