Edward VIII's Abdication Rocked the World

Britain's Royal Family has a long history of blunders and embarrassing moments. Sometimes they even trip over their own feet trying to do the right thing for their country. From Prince Charles' awkward quotes to most things involving Prince Andrew, here are 20 blunders the Royal Family wants you to forget. 

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1. The Fire at Windsor Castle

In 1992, a devastating fire broke out in Windsor Castle. It destroyed over 100 artworks and countless pieces of priceless art. The fire itself wasn't controversial, but who paid the bill for the repairs and restoration was. Taxpayers were initially saddled with the costs during a recession, sparking a public outcry, which forced the Queen to open Buckingham Palace to visitors to fund repairs. 

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2. Edward VIII's Abdication Crisis

In 1936, Edward VIII shocked the nation by abdicating the throne to marry an American, Wallis Simpson. While that wasn't a blunder, well, not fully anyway, it caused a constitutional crisis and forced his unprepared brother into the role of king. The abdication was embarrassing to the monarchy and remains one of their more awkward chapters. 

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3. Prince Philip's Public Gaffes

Prince Philip was infamous for making off-the-cuff remarks that sometimes offended the masses. He often embarrassed the Royal Family, even though some simply dismissed it as harmless humor. His insensitive blunders highlighted the challenges that many in the monarchy faced with being informal in diplomatic matters. 

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4. The Queen's Delayed Response

After the tragic death of Princess Diana, the royal family remained at Balmoral Castle and were quiet about the event. In fairness, they were protecting the privacy of Diana's children, but the lack of immediate public acknowledgement from the Queen infuriated mourners across the country and globe. 

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5. Charles' "What Love Means" Quote

When asked if he was in love with Diana Spencer during their engagement announcement in 1981, Prince Charles awkwardly replied, "Whatever 'in love' means". The public was shocked and angered by his comments, and his words cast doubt on the authenticity of their supposed fairytale romance. 

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6. The "Annus Horribilis" Year

After a series of disasters in 1992, Queen Elizabeth II went on to dub the year her "annus horribilis", which translates to "horrible year". Over the course of that year, three royal marriages collapsed, Windsor Castle burned, and the tabloids were filled with royal family exploits and indiscretions. 

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7. Prince Andrew's "Pitch@Palace" Initiative

Prince Andrew faced heavy scrutiny over a business initiative designed to help entrepreneurs. Reports emerged of his questionable business connections, including relationships with countries with poor human rights records. His actions blurred the line between personal gain and public service. 

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8. Prince Charles Black Spider Memos

In the 2000s, Prince Charles had written dozens of letters to government ministers, which were dubbed the "Black Spider Memos" because of his messy handwriting. The letters raised concerns about the Royal Family interfering in politics, and critics believed that it crossed the line of constitutional neutrality. 

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9. The Queen's Tax Exemption Uproar

For years, the Queen was exempt from paying income and capital gains taxes. This practice became increasingly controversial during any period of economic hardship in Britain. Public outcry argued that royals needed to contribute like any citizen. In 1992, the Queen volunteered to pay taxes on her personal income. 

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10. Princess Margaret's Lavish Lifestyle 

Princess Margaret was a firecracker and known for her extravagant spending. Stories of her legendary holidays and shopping sprees clashed with the public's expectation of the royals' duties. 

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11. Prince Charles's "Architecture Crusade"

Prince Charles has long been an outspoken figure on architecture. His blunt criticisms annoyed architects and politicians, who accused him of meddling and derailing projects. 

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12. The Queen Mother's Spending Habits

The Queen Mother's lavish spending was always a quiet headache for the Royal Family. She ran up millions in debt thanks to her expensive tastes in horses and clothing, and excessive staffing requirements. Her financial mismanagement became public after her death.

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13. The Royal Yacht Britannia Controversy

The Royal Yacht, Britannia, was a palace on the seas for decades. By the 1990s, it was a complete financial burden. Taxpayers didn't want to foot the bill to refurbish or replace it, so it was eventually decommissioned in 1997.

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14. Prince Harry's Party Reputation

Before becoming a family man, Prince Harry had the reputation of being quite a party animal. He was carefree and known for his hard drinking. Tabloids loved to chronicle his clubbing, wild travels, and clashes with the media. 

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15. Prince William's Avoidance of Royal Duties

In the mid-2010s, Prince William was accused of ignoring his royal duties while working part-time as a helicopter pilot. He was nicknamed "Work-Shy Wills" by the media, who argued that he wasn't pulling his weight compared to his grandmother and father. 

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16. Royal Train Costs

The Royal Train was a luxurious way to travel and has long been criticized for its exuberant costs. Journeys often cost tens of thousands of pounds, far more than commercial travel. Taxpayers hated being reminded of the monarchy's high operating costs.

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17. Prince Andrew's Trade Envoy Role

Prince Andrew served as the UK trade envoy to promote the country's business abroad. His time in this role was marked by controversy due to his pricy travel expenses and questionable associations with foreign leaders.

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18. The Corgi Drama

Queen Elizabeth II's adoration for corgis is legendary, but her dogs tended to embarrass the palace. There were fights with other pets, incidents of biting staff, and on several occasions, they attacked visiting dignitaries' dogs. This behavior clashed with the Royal Family's dignified public image.

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19. Prince Edward's Failed TV Venture

Prince Edward founded a TV production company in the 1990s. It struggled financially and became notorious for trying to film Prince William while he attended university, which broke a press agreement and was deemed exploitative. 

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20. Prince Charles' Awkward Ski Accident Photo

During a ski trip in Switzerland, Prince Charles was caught on camera tumbling down a slope. While innocent, the images spread, and many poked fun at the heir to the throne. 

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