Henry ‘Chips’ Channon tells story of the night time the long run Queen’s cocktails have been laced at ball

The salacious diaries of Tory MP Sir Henry ‘Chips’ Channon brought on a sensation when first printed in 1967. Their wildly indiscreet observations concerning the nice and the nice of English society between 1918 and 1957 led them to be censored. Though married to Girl Honor Guinness, the American-born politician lusted after each women and men – sharing a mattress along with his MP brother-in-law, Military officer Peter Coats (who was posted on obligation to India) and the playwright Terence Rattigan, for whom he pulled strings to get off RAF service. The ultimate quantity of the diaries begins close to the tip of the Second World Warfare…

Monday, January 22, 1945

We drove to Lancing to see ‘Bosie’ Douglas. [As a young man, Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas, son of the Marquess of Queensbury, had famously had an affair with Oscar Wilde that led, indirectly, to Wilde being jailed.]

He’s dying. He appeared enchanted to see us; however I used to be shocked by his look; he regarded like an aged dying French duchess… we sat with him for 2 hours as he chatted of Oscar Wilde and previous days.

The Russians appear headed for Berlin.

Catty: Channon typically criticised the looks of the then Queen Elizabeth. ‘[Her] bosom is huge and backside immense’

Wednesday, January 24

One other blissful honeymoon day. Terry [Rattigan] was an enchantment… I really like him deeply.

Friday, January 26

Too chilly to stay; the entire nation is frozen up and electrical energy is lower in every single place. Is it the tip of the world?

Wednesday, January 31

Terry telephoned early: he has had a discover to look on the Air Ministry tomorrow, and could also be compelled to rejoin his unit. I used to be determined and enlisted the assistance of Rupert Brabner, the gorgeous little under-secretary [at the Air Ministry]. Rang up Terry who was immensely relieved.

Thursday, February 1

At 12.25 I met Terry; he regarded very good-looking and was glad as a result of he has been granted an additional three months extension of depart.

We went to the Hippodrome… Terry and I have been within the subsequent stalls to [playwright] Noel Coward, who gave me a leer of a glance. He has misplaced his appears to be like, actually.

Sunday, February 4

All day at Kelvedon [his Essex country home] the place I learn, wrote, labored and reclined and thought of Terry. I’ve a premonition that our now super and world-known axis will break up – some outdoors factor or occasion will intrude with our happiness.

Friday, February 9

[Coppins, Duchess of Kent’s home]

We drove right here to stick with the Duchess of Kent. After the Duchess went to mattress we browsed concerning the sitting room and located an unimaginable sugary insincere letter from the Queen. Queen E [Elizabeth] is the hypocrite of all time – a sugary light humbug.

Tuesday, February 20

I start a recent quantity of my journal on this night time of my divorce. I felt like a prisoner going to the condemned cell. At 10.30 I arrived [and] waited some time as different fits have been heard; sordid circumstances. I felt nervous. Out of the blue I discovered myself within the witness field giving proof in a transparent voice. No point out was product of Honor’s many infidelities [nor Chips’ it seems!]

I used to be awarded the unconditional custody of my youngster. It was throughout in ten minutes.

Wednesday, February 21

Referred to as on Diana Cooper [wife of Secretary of State for War Duff Cooper]. She got here in from lunching with Winston and Mrs Churchill. Clemmie had been somewhat cross with the PM; however he took it, as all the time, calmly.

Monday, February 26

Went on a stroll with my Austrian bitch Batsi and a rocket bomb fell only some fields away. I used to be flung, or somewhat fell, to the bottom. There have been two explosions and clouds of smoke: fortunately it fell in a area and no one was killed.

Wednesday, February 28

Jacqueline Killearn [diplomat Lord Killearn’s wife], having flown from Cairo, telephoned to announce her arrival: she adores me. Individuals whispered that I’m the daddy of her son, which occurs to be unfaithful.

Tuesday, March 20

Slept ailing after leaving Terry at 2am, and browse a ebook he had lent me about flagellation, a type of perversion which fascinates him.

Woke at 10am, and located a candy letter from Peter Coats, who’s planning to return to me and to London quickly. A dramatic scenario will develop…

Drove to see the harm in Park Lane [caused by a V-2]. Solely eight individuals who have been out strolling their canine have been killed. The Dorchester inmates are unscathed.

Wednesday, March 21

Terry and I exchanged gold signet rings with our crests on them – Cartier made them.

Wednesday, March 28

Terry actually likes second-rate individuals, drunkards and ne’er-do-wells – I really feel tonight that after six delectable months our friendship would possibly now cool. I’m starting to be bored… we talked on the phone and organized for his launch from the RAF after which walked to the Commons the place I had a shock. I used to be instructed that Rupert had been killed in a flying boat off the Azores! He was a pleasant, extraordinarily handsome charmer, and subsequent to me the second-best-dressed man within the Commons.

Tuesday, April 17

Took my son to the service at St Paul’s in reminiscence of President Roosevelt [who had died five days earlier]. The King was in naval uniform, the Queen in black. Instantly behind them was Princess Elizabeth in Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform.

Following them have been the King of Norway escorting the Queen of Holland, who regarded an previous frump.

After the service: I turned in direction of the church. Winston was standing bare-headed, framed between two columns of the portico and he was sobbing as a shaft of daylight fell on his face.

Put up-war ball: Channon described Princess Elizabeth, seen right here in 1946, as alert and looking out ‘like a homosexual partridge’

Tuesday, Could 1

It’s mentioned that Hitler is useless and no one now cares. To the Home. Winston in homosexual kind.

Monday, Could 7

The unconditional give up of Germany passed off as we speak! I’m going to mattress with combined emotions; hostilities are completed: the celebrations, which I half-dread, start tomorrow. I’m half-dead with pleasure, love and emotion.

Tuesday, Could 8 – VE Day

Received up slowly, dazed! At one o’clock I walked by means of the Ritz, which was beflagged and embellished. Everybody kissed me! Drove to the Commons. Each seat was occupied. Ultimately Winston entered and he had an amazing reception. Everybody waved handkerchiefs and order papers… Winston smiled, half-bowed and, turning in direction of the Speaker, learn out the brief and stilted phrases asserting the give up of Germany. Members wept.

Outdoors there was a terrific crowd; the solar was shining; there have been bells; cameras clicking. The lengthy nightmare has ended.

Wednesday, Could 9

Listened to the King’s broadcast. It was actually too embarrassing: he ought to speak higher by now. I’ve no persistence with the current Sovereigns [sic], each are bores and boring.

Sunday, Could 13

Drove to St Paul’s [for the National Service of Thanksgiving] by means of the streets. The good cathedral was packed. Their Majesties regarded younger and smiling (the Queen’s look is appalling – her bosom is huge and her backside immense); the King regarded drawn and drained though he has the Windsor present of showing half his age.

Thursday, Could 17

Liverish and depressed despite my each day injections… had my backside washed out, after which went to the Commons. The King and Queen arrived. He was in navy uniform, she in turquoise blue with a feathery hat… all smiles and graciousness however her determine is deplorable!

Saturday, July 28

[The Conservatives had been defeated by a Labour landslide. Churchill was out of office.]

I’m surprised and shocked by the nation’s treachery, and very shocked by my very own survival.

Sunday, August 5

The world has been electrified, thrilled and horrified by the atomic bomb; one has been dropped in Japan as we speak. It devastated a complete city [Hiroshima] and killed 1 / 4 of one million individuals. It might imply the tip of civilisation.

Friday, August 10

In the end the warfare is over, or ending. The streets have been crowded with celebrating individuals singing, and plagued by torn paper. Individuals tear phone books to bits and throw them into the streets.

Tuesday, August 14

This morning I learn the resignation honours listing; no peerage for Mr Channon. Midnight and I occurred to activate the information, and heard Attlee announce the tip of the warfare.

Peter Coats returned from India.

Saturday, February 2

[Coats and Chips threw a dinner party before a ball at the Dorchester. Princess Elizabeth came.]

Everybody was dressed up. Noel Coward was coated with emeralds. The Duchess of Kent’s magnificence was staggering. It was a shimmering sea of splendour. Princess Elizabeth regarded like a homosexual partridge… By no means has there been a lot pleasure a few ball! (Peter and I surreptitiously put some Benzedrine* within the cocktails; no one seen.) *An amphetamine.

Sunday, February 3

Peter fairly misplaced his coronary heart to the royal partridge [Princess Elizabeth]. She appeared alert, and has a turned-up nostril; however while homosexual and confident is as but inelegant.

Sunday, February 24

Peter had been out dancing and spent the night, or most of it, with Princess Elizabeth with whom he’s en flirt. [Rattigan returned from America. Chips divided his attention between him and Coats.]

Friday, March 1

Slept badly as Peter woke me at 4.30; he had danced once more with Princess Elizabeth, whom he finds homosexual and pleasant.

She is alert and has concepts. I hear that she is way attracted by him and he has been summoned to Buckingham Palace to a celebration subsequent week.

Tuesday, March 5

I used to be angered with Terry… he went off to Brighton to see his catamite (just a little horror named Kenneth Morgan).

Thursday, March 7

My forty ninth birthday. I look about 41. Venetia Montagu and Diana Cooper got here to see me. A lot criticism of the King and Queen. Venetia described her as a ‘middle-class’ bitch!

Wednesday, July 3

Hassle once more with my enormous Rolls-Royce [outside the Commons]. It needed to be pushed, to the amusement of ‘the Comrades’, as we name the socialists.

Monday, July 29

All day at Kelvedon: attractive solar. We bathed and swam bare.

Terry trying like a god, golden and wonderful. Totally drained and exhausted mentally and spiritually by my indulgences, gastronomic and sexual.

[The diary lapsed from August 1, 1946 to October 20, 1947. Chips records ‘the end of the Rattigan romance’ and ‘a brief but exciting and passionate friendship with Lord Audley, from whom I now feel estranged’. His relationship with Coats endured.]

Tuesday, October 21

Peter and I drove in semi-state to the Opening of Parliament; the proceedings are in a subdued notice; semi-state carriages, the Okay and Q in a single. He was in naval uniform; she in an aquamarine afternoon robe with a longish prepare.

From behind she regarded all proper however the entrance view regarded ridiculous; her bosom is bathetic: too many Balmoral teas, I worry.

Saturday, October 25

The royal engagement [between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip of Greece] was, is, wildly triumphantly in style however the wedding ceremony (not the wedding) is decried and criticised on all sides: its bogus austerity appeals to no one.

Tuesday, October 28

Anthony [Eden, former Foreign Secretary] can not get Beatrice [his wife] to renew conjugal life… and but can not carry himself to carry an motion for desertion in opposition to her. Anthony will need to have his place regularised earlier than he turns into Prime Minister.

Monday, November 17

The stage is now set for the royal wedding ceremony; it has been mishandled from the beginning: the King is such a poltroon.

The entire affair ought to have been magnificently stage-managed – essentially the most splendid wedding ceremony in historical past. I’ve been requested if I’d lend or let my home to them for some months; and I refused.

Thursday, November 20

Royal Wedding ceremony Day! Big crowds. Princess Elizabeth regarded shy and engaging; Philip was dazzling and evidently loved himself.

The Queen regarded properly; the King appeared wood and stiff. The most important, warmest reception was reserved for Winston; within the Abbey, everybody stood up – even the Kings and Queens.

Thursday, January 22

Went to the Lyceum theatre for the Vic-Wells Costume Ball. I’ve seen a lot, however by no means an orgy to the touch it; the costumes – or lack of them – and the bare younger males, lots of them dancing collectively, was staggering.

Tuesday, February 17

Dripping with rubies and elegantly dressed, Peter and I went to choose up Miss Mae West, the world-famous comedienne; we have been almost mobbed – a crowd jumped on the automobile shouting for autographs and so forth. Peter and I feared that the Rolls can be smashed up.

Sunday, April 25

After going to mattress on Wednesday night I felt ailing and couldn’t sleep. At 5am I had a haemorrhage (the second in my life) and I assumed I ought to die.

For 4 days now I’ve been in mattress, dwelling first on ice, after which on milk.

Now I’m recovering… my room is banked with flowers and it appears to be like like a gangster’s funeral.

Friday, April 30

I’m now recovering. All my previous associates have rallied round me and been divine! John Gielgud sits on my mattress…

Sunday, July 18

The Queen had turn into so disliked [among] the Scottish aristocracy.

Apparently it’s her falseness, her levity and treacherous dialog which disillusions everybody ultimately.

On the small Windsor dance throughout Ascot week the Queen drank a toast – ‘Dying to Dalton!’ [Hugh Dalton, Labour Minister and Old Etonian, was regarded by some as a class traitor]. That is critical.

Princess Margaret… bored and bullied all people. She is a tiny tyrant and can get the royal household into hassle.

Tailored from Henry ‘Chips’ Channon: The Diaries (Quantity 3): 1943-57 by Chips Channon, printed by Hutchinson Heinemann at £35. © The Trustees of the diaries and private papers of Sir Henry Channon 2022. Introduction and notes © Simon Heffer 2022. To order a replica for £30, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or name 020 3176 2937 by December 23; UK p&p free on orders over £20.