The British royal family’s reputation has been shaken by Prince Andrew’s sex scandal, but history shows that such incidents are nothing new. Over the centuries, the royal family has faced embarrassment time and again as affairs, infidelity, and even homosexuality have stirred controversy around its members. From the medieval era to the modern age, these scandals have left a lasting impact on Britain’s society, politics, and culture.
Recently, Prince Andrew was forced to relinquish his royal titles over his alleged connection with the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles III expelled his younger brother from royal duties.
However, the King himself has not remained above controversy. In 1989, while still married to Princess Diana, the then Prince of Wales, Charles, was involved in an extramarital affair with Queen Camilla. When recordings of their intimate conversations were leaked in 1993, the media erupted in scandal, which eventually led to his divorce from Princess Diana.
Other members of the royal family have also been drawn into controversy over matters of the heart. In the 1950s, Princess Margaret, the aunt of King Charles III, fell in love with Royal Air Force Captain Peter Townsend. When the royal family disapproved of the relationship, Margaret formally announced the end of their romance in 1955.
King Edward VIII, however, chose a different path. Shortly after ascending the British throne in 1936, he fell in love with Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman. His relationship with her sparked outrage within both the royal family and the Church of England, ultimately leading him to abdicate the throne in December that year.
Going further back in history, King Edward II had a homosexual relationship with nobleman Piers Gaveston, keeping it secret from his wife, Isabella. After Edward ascended the throne in 1307, he appointed Gaveston to a high royal position, provoking public and political outrage. Rebels eventually killed Gaveston, leaving the King devastated. His reign thereafter was marred by unrest and instability.
In yet another royal scandal, 10th-century King Eadwig (Edwy) caused uproar in the royal court by engaging in intimate relations with both a mother and her daughter during his coronation festivities. The incident shocked the court and became one of the earliest recorded love scandals in British royal history.