Palace intrigues reveal more than the politics and lifestyle of the United Kingdom’s most esteemed family. Underneath the crown and regal vestments, members of royalty are still very much human.
Time and again, these rulers and their family often become the subject of controversy. History remembers many past monarchs behaving badly, like King Henry VIII challenging the Pope in the 16th century so he can annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, or the witch hunts organized by King James VI of Scotland before ascending the English throne at the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. Fortunately, not all royal squabbles are terrible. Most are just juicy fodder, the kind we ordinary individuals can’t help but feel fascinated about.
There’s no doubt that sovereigns carry a certain charm, thanks to the position, power and fame they possess. Still, the things that make them human—their love lives, their petty jealousies, and their secret obsessions—make them perfect in the eyes of their admirers.
Here we list down a few royal scandals in recent history that left watchers shocked and intrigued the world over:
Rekindling Old Passions
At the top of the list are the extra-marital affairs of former royal couple Prince Charles and Princess Diana. In 1986, Charles resumed his former relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Prince’s second wife. Diana was aware of the affair and took matters in her own hands by confronting Camilla at a birthday party in 1989.
String of Affairs
Diana, too, had been romantically linked to several men during her marriage with Charles, like with ex-army captain James Hewitt, car salesman James Gilbey, and her former bodyguard Barry Mannakee. The first of this short list was even forced to deny rumors of being Prince Harry’s biological father.
Caught Naked
The second son of Charles and Diana has had his fair share of shocking reveals during his rebellious days, including being caught using cannabis and getting into a brawl with paparazzi. Perhaps Prince Harry’s most jaw-dropping scandal involved him going naked over a game of strip billiards in a Las Vegas hotel. Leaked photos soon circulated on the Internet and the red-head royal was forced to rush back to England to explain himself not only to his dad but also the Queen.
Anything for Love
Formerly the Prince of Greece and Denmark, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip had to endure much controversy when the two got engaged in 1947. At the time, he was dismissed as a “German” by the British and was considered “not good enough” by the king’s advisers. Perhaps his poor image wasn’t unfounded: Not only was he penniless and a foreigner, his sisters also married German princes who had Nazi ties. To improve his image, he abandoned all his royal titles, taking on the style of Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten using the surname of his mother’s British family. He also converted to Anglicanism.
Many more scandals have plagued royal families along with the nobility throughout the centuries. For more shocking revelations, catch Reign every Tuesday at 9PM on RTL CBS Entertainment.
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