Oh, The Scandal!

Royal history is littered with both likable and despised kings and queens, princes and princesses. From terrible political intrigue and depravity, to acts of great bravery and benevolence, our famous royals have always grabbed the world’s headlines. With that in mind, here are 20 of the most scandalous and revered individuals.

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1. Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly was an American film actress. She had a successful career in Hollywood before marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco and becoming Princess of Monaco. The transition from a glamorous acting career to royal life marked a significant change for Kelly. She was reportedly fond of her acting career, and it was rumored that Prince Rainier had placed restrictions on her ability to return to it. This created a sense of conflict between her personal desires and her royal obligations, fueling rumors and speculation about her personal life and choices.

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2. Princess Diana

Diana, Princess of Wales and wife of Prince Charles, was known for her charisma, compassion, and fashion. Her troubled marriage and Prince Charles's affair with Camilla Parker Bowles led to a worldwide media frenzy and public speculation. The royal scandal revealed the private struggles behind the public image, as Diana experienced both adoration and heartbreak.

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3. King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII of England was one of the most notorious monarchs in history. He reigned from 1509-1547 and was famous for his turbulent personal life. Henry's six marriages, divorces, and the execution of two of his wives shocked the country and contributed to a torrent of gossip and scandal. His break from the Catholic Church to obtain a divorce was a seismic religious and political shift that sent shockwaves throughout England.

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4. Caroline Lacroix

Lacroix was the well-known mistress of Leopold II, King of the Belgians, and as such, she had a lot of influence and a large fortune. During their liaison, Lacroix was given houses, businesses, and jewels by the king, to the outrage of his legitimate daughters. The scandal came to a head when, shortly before the king's death, the two performed a marriage ceremony that was not legally binding, causing an outcry from the king's family and the public.

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5. Prince Charles

Prince Charles, heir apparent to the British throne, and Camilla Parker Bowles were widely condemned for their adulterous affair. The former engaged in an extramarital affair with Camilla Parker Bowles while he was married to Diana, Princess of Wales. The affair's exposure led to public scandal, media intrusion, and a significant royal family crisis. The situation underscored the complexities of duty, love, and public scrutiny in the lives of contemporary royals.

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6. King Leopold II

King Leopold II of Belgium was one of the most notable historical monarchs who had public mistresses. The king had multiple well-known mistresses, the most famous of whom was Lacroix, with whom he had a 30-year relationship. Leopold gave his mistresses incredible wealth and privileges, which created scandals and popular resentment.

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7. Edward VIII

Wallis Simpson was an American socialite whose relationship with the heir to the British throne, Edward VIII, resulted in the most publicized royal scandal of the century. They had both been married before (Wallis was divorced twice), and the Church of England, of which Edward was the nominal head, strictly forbade remarriage after divorce. This put Edward in the impossible position of having to choose between the woman he loved and his religious and royal obligations. The resulting crisis led to Edward being forced to abdicate on December 10, 1936, becoming the only British monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne for the love of a woman.

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8. Princess Mako

The former Japanese princess, a niece of Emperor Naruhito, drew global attention as she wed her college classmate Kei Komuro. As she married a commoner, she had to give up her royal status under the Japanese Imperial House Law. There was media and public attention, and some discussion over her need to relinquish royal status. The couple soon after moved to New York from Japan following their wedding.

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9. Marie Antoinette

The French queen Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI, is one of the most well-known figures in history due to her over-the-top lifestyle and public image. The queen was the subject of public wrath and the most notorious myth in history, “Let them eat cake.” The extravagance and disconnect from reality associated with her spending and behavior was a factor in the French Revolution and her eventual beheading by guillotine in 1793.

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10. Princess Charlotte of Germany

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany's sister Princess Charlotte was at the center of a court scandal in 1891. She invited aristocrats to Jagdschloss Grunewald for private “adult” parties, and anonymous letters soon started to reveal details of the lives of those involved. Dueling and imprisonment followed for many involved, which was a black mark on the Kaiser's court and raised questions about who leaked the information.

Now that we’ve talked about some of the most scandalous royals out there, here are 10 of the most respected.

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1. Henri IV

Henri IV of France is one of France's most popular kings. He was a charming, gallant, and savvy leader who had many love interests during his life. He was known to be jovial, witty, and someone who cared about the average person. In fact, he promised the people "a chicken in every pot."

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2. Pedro II

Pedro II was a popular and beloved monarch, a constitutional ruler with a record of enlightened and liberal policies and a strong devotion to education, modernization, and social reform that won him the respect of his contemporaries both domestically and internationally. He was overthrown not by the will of the people, but by the opposition of wealthy landowners to his abolitionist stance, which cost him his crown.

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3. Alfred the Great

Alfred the Great was the youngest of five sons who, at the beginning of his life, had not anticipated that he would become king. He ascended the throne at one of the darkest times in English history and distinguished himself as an exceptional warrior and strategist. He fearlessly and ingeniously defended his people against the Vikings and was also a noted scholar and reformer. He is remembered as a wise and fair king who was devoted to learning and justice.

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4. King George III

King George III of England was a kind, humble, and dedicated man who loved his people. He disguised himself as a common farmer to have personal conversations with peasants about agriculture, established an art school still in existence today, donated thousands of books to a library, and was a scientist who even had his own observatory.

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5. Charles XI

Charles XI of Sweden was an absolutist monarch who is viewed as having been a competent ruler. He led Sweden to victory over the Danes, reformed a chaotic national economy, restructured Sweden's finances, bolstered Sweden's economy, and kept the country at peace for 20 years – no small feat in the conflict-ridden 17th century.

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6. Suleiman I

Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire, also known as Suleiman the Magnificent, was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. During his rule, the Ottoman Empire incorporated much of the Middle East, Southeastern Europe, and the island of Rhodes. Suleiman also took measures to ensure justice and order within his empire. He is especially respected for making education available for free to all children and building schools and learning centers for future generations.

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7. James I

James I of England was the first to rule both the Scottish and English thrones. He's most remembered for a surge of literary and artistic production under royal patronage. He also reformed the treatment of women and children and presided over the early global ventures of the British East India Company.

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8. Augustus

Augustus of Rome was the first emperor of Rome and is frequently ranked as one of the greatest. He was noted for his diplomatic nature; he negotiated peace treaties with foreign nations and improved Rome by reforming the military. He also had an impact on culture: he founded the cities of Verona, Naples, and Rome, which became a center for art and architecture.

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9. Queen Victoria

The United Kingdom's Queen Victoria reigned for 67 years, one of the longest reigns in history. The period is known as the Victorian Age and was marked by the expansion of the British Empire in Africa, Asia, and North America. Britain developed substantially in science, industry, and culture during this time.

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10. Louis XIV

Louis XIV of France, the Sun King, reigned for more than 70 years, making France the most powerful country in Europe. He eliminated feudalism, modernized the government, and fortified the military and fine arts. Infrastructure also flourished, with the building of roads, bridges, hospitals, and grand architectural works that glorified France.

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