10 Royal Scandals: Scurrilous Stories of Disgraced Nobles

Prince Harry might be making headlines now, but royal scandals are nothing new! For centuries, royal families have dealt with dissenters and those who pushed the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Here are ten royals and nobles throughout history who found themselves embroiled in juicy scandals that shook their kingdoms and left a lasting mark. Get ready for tales of adultery, betrayal, and shocking behavior!

10. Blanche of Burgundy

Blanche of Burgundy lived in the 1300s and was married to King Charles IV of France. As the daughter of the powerful Count of Burgundy, she should have been set for a life of luxury and influence. However, Blanche’s story takes a scandalous turn when her sister-in-law gifted her a coin purse.

Blanche wasn’t a fan and re-gifted it to her secret lover, a Norman knight. This act exposed her adultery, leading to her imprisonment, loss of her children’s rights, and having her head shaved as a mark of shame. While she eventually regained some favor, her lover faced a much grimmer fate, being condemned to death.

9. Princess Sophia Dorothea of Celle

Princess Sophia Dorothea of Celle, a Georgian princess, married King George I before he ascended to the throne. Despite bearing him two children, their marriage was far from happy. Sophia sought solace elsewhere and began an affair with Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck.

Unfortunately for her, King George discovered the affair and was not pleased. Sophia was imprisoned in a tower, where she remained for the rest of her days, while George I went on to become king. Her story is a tragic tale of love and confinement within the rigid confines of royal life.

8. The Duke of Cumberland

The Duke of Cumberland’s life took a dark and scandalous turn in 1810 when an attempt was made on his life while he slept at St. James Palace. The attacker gained entry despite the door being locked.

The palace attendants discovered the Duke’s valet with his throat slit. Rumors swirled that the Duke had tried to seduce the valet, and when rejected, murdered him to cover his tracks. This scandal remains shrouded in mystery and speculation, forever tainting the Duke’s reputation.

7. Queen Matilda of Denmark

Queen Matilda of Denmark, born in England, married into the Danish royal family at the young age of 15. She found her new home isolating and her husband depressed, which led her into the arms of the royal physician, Johann Friedrich Struensee.

What started as medical care evolved into a full-blown affair. The court discovered the relationship in 1771, leading to the physician’s torture and execution by drawing and quartering. Matilda was imprisoned and then deported back to England, her life forever scarred by the scandal.

6. Marquise de Montespan

The Marquise de Montespan was King Louis XIV’s mistress. Despite the king being married to Marie-Thérèse of Austria, he was captivated by the Marquise’s beauty and intelligence. But the Marquise wanted more – she wanted to be queen.

She turned to dark magic, hiring a Parisian witch to create love potions using the bones of babies! The scheme unraveled in 1679 when a series of poisonings at court led to investigations. The witch was burned at the stake, while the Marquise retreated to a convent, escaping a similar gruesome fate.

5. Pope Alexander VI

Alexander VI, Pope during the 15th-century Italian Renaissance, was more interested in earthly riches and lavish parties than spiritual matters. Despite his vow of celibacy, he engaged in multiple affairs and allegedly hosted orgies at the church’s expense.

He continued this scandalous lifestyle until his death in 1503. Though he allegedly repented on his deathbed, the extent of his remorse remains a question. His papacy stands as a stark example of corruption and scandal within the highest ranks of the Catholic Church.

4. Ingeborg of Denmark

Ingeborg of Denmark became Queen of France through her marriage to King Philip II in 1193. However, on their wedding day, King Philip fell ill and blamed Ingeborg. Just days later, he sought an annulment, claiming they were too closely related, even fabricating a family tree to support his claim.

The Pope initially fell for it, and Ingeborg was sent back to Denmark. Philip remarried, but after his second wife died, he declared Ingeborg his lawful wife and queen in 1213. After Philip’s death, Ingeborg founded a convent, escaping the scandals of the court, and living out her days in peace.

3. Edward III

Edward III’s scandal revolves around his mistress, Alice Perrers. Their affair began in the 1360s while Alice was a member of the royal household. After the queen’s death in 1369, Alice moved in on the aging and ailing king.

She manipulated and allegedly abused him until his death. After Edward’s passing, Alice was exiled from England, showcasing the court’s disapproval of her scandalous influence over the king.

2. Pope Stephen VI

Stephen VI held a deep-seated resentment for his predecessor, Pope Formosus. After Formosus died, Stephen had his body exhumed, dressed in robes, and put on public trial. He berated the corpse, declared him guilty of false charges, and annulled his decrees.

This bizarre and macabre spectacle resulted in a scandal that led to Stephen’s removal from office, imprisonment, and eventual strangulation by protestors. His story is a chilling example of power, jealousy, and the abuse of authority.

1. Princess Charlotte of Prussia

Princess Charlotte of Prussia, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, was involved in scandal in 1891 when anonymous letters circulated accusing her and Duke Wilhelm of participating in sexual orgies and debauchery.

The letters continued for four years, tarnishing Charlotte’s reputation, though nothing substantial came of the accusations. This scandal, however, significantly damaged her reputation, marking her legacy with controversy.

From scandalous love affairs to bizarre acts of revenge, these stories reveal the hidden lives and shocking behaviors of royals and nobles throughout history. These scandals remind us that even those in positions of power and privilege are not immune to human desires, flaws, and the consequences of their actions.

Which scandal surprised you the most? Leave your comment below!