HITLER'S FAVOURITE ROYAL | PRINCE CHARLES EDWARD

Cinemavixion Review

This Channel 4 documentary, released in 2007 and directed by Fiona Cotter Craig, delves into the complex and ultimately tragic life of Prince Charles Edward, Queen Victoria’s once-favoured grandson. The film chronicles his transformation from a British Prince into the German Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, a decision made by Queen Victoria that irrevocably altered his destiny. The narrative highlights his forced allegiance to Germany during World War I, leading to the stripping of his British titles and his branding as a 'Traitor Peer'. The documentary further explores Prince Charles Edward's disillusionment and subsequent embrace of Adolf Hitler's National Socialist Workers' Party. As President of the Anglo German Fellowship and the German Red Cross, he became entangled with the darker aspects of the Nazi regime, including potential implications in the T4 Euthanasia Programme. His post-war arrest, internment, and a trial that branded him an 'important Nazi' led to financial ruin and a life of poverty and obscurity. Featuring exclusive interviews with his descendants, the film contrasts his path with that of his sister, Princess Alice, who remained in England and became a beloved figure in the Royal Family. The documentary serves as a poignant examination of a forgotten footnote in royal history, exploring the profound impact of a single, fateful decision on a life and legacy.