Exclusive never-before-seen photographs have emerged, offering a tantalising glimpse into the lives of Mandy Rice-Davies and Christine Keeler during the height of the infamous Profumo Affair scandal that rocked 1960s Britain.
The risqué images show the two showgirls and their fellow performers at Murray's Cabaret Club in Soho, London - the very establishment where their paths crossed with Secretary of State for War John Profumo, setting in motion one of the most explosive political scandals of the 20th century.
The Club That Shook Westminster
Murray's Club served as the unlikely epicentre of a scandal that would ultimately bring down a government. The newly surfaced photos reveal the provocative performances that made the venue notorious, with Rice-Davies and Keeler often taking centre stage in revealing costumes.
One particularly striking image shows Rice-Davies in a daring sequined outfit, while another captures Keeler mid-performance, embodying the carefree spirit of Swinging London before their names became synonymous with political disgrace.
Friendship Forged in Spotlight
The collection of photographs provides rare insight into the friendship between Rice-Davies and Keeler before the scandal broke. Several shots show the young women laughing together backstage, their camaraderie evident despite their very different backgrounds.
Rice-Davies, the more worldly of the pair at just 19, reportedly took the younger Keeler under her wing, introducing her to the club's glittering clientele that included politicians, aristocrats and even Soviet spies.
A Scandal That Changed Britain
What began as titillating gossip about a War Minister's affair with a showgirl soon escalated into a full-blown constitutional crisis when Keeler's simultaneous relationship with a Soviet naval attaché came to light at the height of the Cold War.
The photographs serve as a poignant reminder of how these young women's lives were irrevocably changed when their private moments became front-page news. While the scandal destroyed Profumo's career, both Keeler and Rice-Davies struggled with the aftermath for decades.
These rare images capture a fleeting moment before the storm - when they were simply two talented performers enjoying London's vibrant nightlife, unaware of the seismic political shockwaves their lives would soon trigger.
