Every family has secrets and scandal and the British royal family is no exception. Except that their dirty laundry is usually sprayed across the front pages of newspapers and tabloids. From an entire succession line derailment to hushed visits with secret lovers, here are some of the royal family’s most scandalous moments.
King Edward VIII’s abdication
King Edward VIII was crowned in 1936 but a year later abdicated for love. He wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, who was a two-time divorcee which naturally caused social (and political) uproar at the time. The Church of England forbade him from marrying her so he essentially ditched the throne, handing it over to his brother King George VI, changing the entire succession line.
When 14-year-old Prince Charles ordered a cherry brandy in a bar
Prince Charles ordered a cherry brandy at the age of 14 in a Stornoway Harbour pub. Little did he know that a tabloid reporter was there and overhead the order. “I said the first drink that came into my head, because I’d drunk it before, when it was cold, out shooting,” the seemingly innocent prince said in an interview with Vanity Fair. Naturally, the incident turned into a scandal that was plastered across nearly every tabloid.
When Prince Harry got caught naked in Las Vegas
The then 27-year-old prince was caught naked playing a game of strip poker while in Las Vegas. He was on a break before having to return to active duty in Afghanistan with the British Army. “At the end of the day I probably let myself down, I let my family down, I let other people down. But it was probably a classic example of me probably being too much army, and not enough prince. It’s a simple case of that,” he said after the incident.
Princess Margaret falling in love with a married man
If you’ve watched Netflix’s The Crown, you’d know all about the heartbreaking story. The princess spent a lot of time with Captain Peter Townsend, a Royal Air Force Officer, and the two naturally fell in love. The problem? Townsend was married. The scandal hit the newsstands in 1953 when he divorced his wife and proposed to Princess Margaret. Sadly, they called off their engagement after coming to terms with the fact that they wouldn’t get the fairytale ending.
Princess Margaret’s (very) public divorce
Following her split from Townsend, Princess Margaret went on to marry photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. In 1976 they made their official split, with Buckingham Palace announcing that the two have “mutually agreed to live apart” and that the princess will continue her royal duties without the Earl of Snowdon. At the time of the announcement there were “no plans for divorce proceedings,” but those came two years later, which made her the first (but not the last) royal family member to get a divorce since the days of Henry VIII.
When Princess Anne fell in love with a member of staff
Princess Anne was married to Olympic equestrian Mark Phillips for nearly two decades before their split in 1992; a marriage that had been described as a “joyless sham.” British Tabloid The Sun claimed it had receiving letters written to the princess, which were not published due to the fear of being sued. It was later announced that Anne had fallen for one of her equerries, Timothy Laurence, a British naval officer. After announcing her divorce, she also said she’d be marrying Laurence. They’ve been together since 1992.
Captain Mark Phillips’ lovechild
While still married to Princess Anne, Phillips had a one-night stand with Heather Tonkin, an art teacher from New Zealand. She fell pregnant and gave birth to Felicity Tonkin, who is now the half-sister of Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips.
Princess Diana’s leaked phone affair
In 1992, while still married to Prince Charles, a transcript of a recorded phone call between ‘The People’s Princess’ and her alleged lover James Gilbey was leaked. Gilbey called her “squidgy” 53 times during the phone call and professed his love for her.
Soon after, Prince Charles’ bedtime call was also leaked
Soon after Princess Diana’s phone affair was leaked, her husband’s affair came to light after a transcript of a conversation between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was released, confirming their relationship.
When it was discovered there was a hidden royal: Prince John
George V and Queen Mary actually had a sixth son: Prince John. He suffered from seizures, which the royal family believed would be perceived as a sign of weakness, so the boy spent the last four years of his life hidden at Sandringham estate. Prince John, who would have been Queen Elizabeth’s uncle, passed away aged 13 after a strong seizure.