Since it began the United Kingdom
monarchy has been rifed with intrigues and scandals too juicy for the commoners
. But underneath the crown and regal vestments, members of royalty are still
very much human as revealed by the politics
and lifestyle of the United Kingdom’s most esteemed family.
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.
RTL CBS Entertainment is
available on SKYcable channels 53 (SD) and 196 (HD), SKYdirect channel 35,
Destiny Cable channel 53 (Digital) and 89 (Analog), and Cablelink channels 37
(SD) and 313 (HD).
