Have you ever heard of these royal family scandals?
Many of us have probably imagined how incredible life would be as royalty. From afar, their lives seem so glamorous and exciting—always looking immaculate, happy, and friendly, living in gorgeous palaces, and surrounded by protection.
But expectations don’t always match reality. While it might look like they have everything they could ever want, the truth is often more complicated. Over the centuries, royal families and controversies have gone hand in hand. Whether it’s a queen who never married, kings caught cheating, or princes and princesses stepping away from their duties, there’s never a dull moment.
The British royals, in particular, have fascinated us for years with their elegance, lifestyle, and, let’s face it, their drama. Today’s article dives into all of that—but with a little extra spice. So, if you’re curious about the controversies that shook royal families to their core, keep reading! Here are some of the most shocking royal family scandals in history.
Will you be just as stunned as the rest of the world? Let’s find out:
1. Charles and Diana
The relationship between Prince Charles, now King, and Diana had always been strained. After they called it quits in 1992, both started spreading rumors about each other’s infidelities. Diana didn’t hold back, famously saying there were three people in her marriage, so it was a bit crowded. The whole country rallied behind Diana, the Princess who had won their hearts.
The ugliness of washing their laundry in public ended shockingly in 1997, when Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris. The Prince of Wales went on to marry Camilla Parker Bowles, the woman he loved, and the third person in the marriage of whom the late princess spoke.
2. Queen Caroline’s trial
Royal family scandals have been around for over a century, and they were just as juicy back then as they are today. In 1820, King George III’s son became King George IV. He had been living away from his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, whom he detested, for more than two decades.
He was eager to keep the queen as far away from the throne as possible and knew that infidelity was the sole basis for divorce; he started to speak badly about Caroline. Even though he had a long history of scandalous affairs, he was certain that the public would back him.
Expectations are different from reality yet again, and he was surprised to discover that the public appreciated the Queen more than they liked him. After growing weary of his luxurious lifestyle and obvious hypocrisy, the public joined together in support of Caroline, who took on the role of a sort of people’s champion.
With the population picking sides, this royal family scandal quickly became worthy of a soap opera production. King George IV may have won the legal battle, but in the court of public opinion, it was Caroline who came out on top.
What can we say? This juicy drama from the 1820s shows that royal family scandals have always been fascinating—and a little messy!
3. Harry and Megan
When actress Meghan Markle and Prince Harry revealed in 2020 that they were leaving their position as senior members of the British royal family, the country was in shock. Since their decision was considered a dramatic break from customs, the media was quick to call them “Megxit.”
When the couple was asked why they wanted to do such a thing, they responded that it was only for privacy, financial independence, and the capacity to concentrate on their charitable endeavors and personal pursuits. It was one of the most popular royal family scandals!
The couple moved to North America, first to Canada and later to California, where they started new businesses, such as media production deals, and set up their foundation, Archewell. Their departure also brought to light Meghan’s struggles, including criticism from the British media and underlying conflicts with the royal family.
Even though fans and traditionalists had differing opinions about the drastic choice, it reinterpreted their responsibilities as contemporary royals looking for a balance between their personal freedom and public service.
4. King Edward VII’s abdication
Did you know that King Edward VII’s abdication was actually a result of love? In 1936, the newly crowned king announced to the country that he was planning to marry an American socialite named Wallis Simpson, who was going through her second divorce.
Sadly, his desire quickly turned into a monstrous royal family scandal. Given that a king’s wedding to a divorcee with a living ex-partner would’ve violated both religious and civil law at the time, the nation went through a constitutional crisis.
Less than a year into his reign, the King realized that his love life was far more important than ruling a country. As a result, he abdicated the throne and irrevocably altered history. His strong decision was widely condemned and left many people in shock.
5. What about Princess Camilla?
When King Charles III was crowned, Princess Camilla became Queen Consort. However, when Queen Elizabeth II was still among us and Mr. Charles was Prince, he mentioned on his official website that Camilla would be referred to as the “Princess Consort” after his coronation.
Why did he do something like this? Did the Prince intend to curry favor with the public’s enduring veneration and admiration for the late Princess Diana? It didn’t matter what he was trying; it soon became clear that he was powerless. Since then, the statement has been removed, and Camilla is known as being the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
6. The annus horribilis
1992 will always be remembered as the “horrible year” (annus horribilis) of Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Princess Anne—three of the Queen’s four children—decided to call it quits with their spouses in the same year. As if that weren’t awful enough, Anne got married again later that year, even though her ex-husband was still alive.
The fact that this was the first, but not the last, instance of a British monarch’s child getting married again after a divorce transformed this entire charade into one of the most notorious royal family scandals of all time.
…What are your thoughts on this subject? Do you believe someone should be judged for their actions just because they’re part of a royal family? We’d love to know what you think, so leave a comment below and let us know what your thoughts are!
7. The Nazi thing
Prince Harry caused a stir in 2005 when he attended a masquerade party in Nazi attire. However, Harry wasn’t the first prince to be “linked” to the Nazi party. According to reports, Prince Philip’s sisters were all married to Germans, some of whom might have been Nazis, and King Edward VIII was thought to socialize with members of the Nazi party.
However, there’s no proof that the current royal family has any connections to the Nazi party, and the late Queen Elizabeth II and Harry both issued lengthy apologies for the wardrobe gaffe. What can we say? Every mistake is a chance to grow and do better from now on.
Are you fascinated by the British royal family? What’s your take on all these juicy royal family scandals? If you’re curious to dive deeper into the drama, here’s a book that answers all your burning questions. And don’t forget to check out this other post from Historical Files for even more intriguing stories: OJ Simpson Trial: 7 Shocking Things That Just Don’t Add Up. See you next time!
