Edward VIII was handsome, charming and adored all over the world. By the age of 30 this English prince was the most desirable bachelor on the planet, an heir to a throne with the magnetism of a Hollywood film star. But only those who knew him best - his family and servants - knew the dark truth about Edward Prince of Wales. He was psychologically damaged, trapped in permanent adolescence - a man who refused to grow up.

His father, King George V, was convinced that if his son succeeded him the monarchy would be ‘in ruins within 12 months'. This film is the real archive history of a man born to be king who refused to behave like one. A man who thought he could use the power and majesty of the throne to pursue his obsession with a twice divorced American mistress - and of what happened when his bluff was finally called. The strength of Edward's feelings sparked the great abdication crisis of 1936 - the Year of Three Kings. It's an old story but seen from a fascinating new perspective, which suggests that in Edward's case the warning signs were there from an early age - a disastrous upbringing, an admiration for dictators (Mussolini and Hitler) and an obsession with older women.