The Queen and the Traitor – premieres tonight on SBS with the story of Anthony Blunt and a scandal that reached the heart of the British establishment.
The documentary revisits a remarkable collision of monarchy, art history and espionage, centred on a trusted figure later exposed as a Soviet spy.
The Queen and the Traitor examines a spy scandal made more extraordinary by proximity to the monarchy. Anthony Blunt’s position as a trusted art historian gave the case a rare mix of culture, privilege, secrecy and national embarrassment.
Blunt’s story remains compelling because it sits at the intersection of public service and private betrayal. The scandal raises questions about class, protection and how long powerful institutions can keep damaging secrets contained.
What to expect in The Queen and the Traitor
Anthony Blunt served as Queen Elizabeth II’s art historian, a role that placed him close to one of Britain’s most visible institutions.
His exposure as a Russian spy turned a private intelligence scandal into a public reckoning over loyalty, secrecy and privilege.
The program uses Blunt’s position to explore why the case remained so explosive and why it still carries the shape of a great British scandal.
The royal connection gives the Blunt story a level of public fascination that goes beyond a standard espionage case.
When to watch The Queen and the Traitor
The Queen and the Traitor: A Great British Scandal airs tonight, Saturday 12 September, at 7.30pm on SBS and SBS On Demand.
For more free-to-air coverage, visit TV Central’s SBS news and highlights. You can also catch up through SBS On Demand.
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