Intrigues, Corruption, and Secret Affairs: Stories of European Monarchies, Past and Present

This year, several controversies have arisen within European monarchies, the most recent involving Prince Andrew due to his questionable connections with an alleged Chinese spy, whom he granted access to the highest business and political circles in Britain. However, this is not the only controversy involving a royal. Throughout history, there have been significant scandals that have marked monarchies, intrigues, forbidden loves, and tragedies that have even influenced the course of history. These episodes, shrouded in a veil of fascination, reveal the most human, and often dark, side of royal families.

One example is the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, remembered not only for his opulent Palace of Versailles but also for the conspiracies that surrounded him. His long reign was marked by a succession of official mistresses, known as "royal favourites," among whom Madame de Montespan and Madame de Maintenon stood out. The former was even implicated in the infamous 'Affaire des Poisons,' a case investigating several poisonings and occult practices at court. Although no conclusive evidence was found against her, the case cast a shadow over her relationship with the monarch and revealed the murkier side of court life.

Catherine the Great of Russia is one of the most fascinating figures in history. Her rise to power was already a scandal: she ascended the throne following a coup that overthrew her husband, Tsar Peter III, who died shortly after under suspicious circumstances. Catherine maintained numerous lovers, some of whom held high positions at court, generating persistent criticism and rumours. One of the most extravagant accused the empress of inappropriate relations with animals, a slander intended to undermine her authority. However, Catherine proved to be a firm ruler who modernised Russia and expanded its territory.

In 18th century England, the Prince Regent George, future George IV, caused a great uproar by secretly marrying Maria Fitzherbert, a Catholic. This marriage was illegal under British law, which prohibited royal family members from marrying Catholics without the monarch's permission. When George needed to marry officially to settle his debts, his union with Maria was ignored, and he was forced to marry Caroline of Brunswick, a relationship that proved disastrous. George and Caroline separated shortly after their wedding, but their public feud damaged the monarchy's reputation.

Before her tragic end during the French Revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette was already the centre of public attacks. The 'Affaire du Collier' was a controversy that severely damaged her image. Swindlers used her name to attempt to acquire a highly valuable diamond necklace. Although the queen had no direct involvement, the story was used by her detractors to portray her as a frivolous and wasteful figure, fuelling the popular discontent that ultimately led to the monarchy's downfall.

Also noteworthy is Christina of Sweden, one of history's most enigmatic figures. In 1654, she unexpectedly abdicated the throne. Her resignation was surrounded by rumours about her rejection of traditional gender norms and her supposed homosexuality, something considered scandalous at the time. She travelled across Europe and adopted Catholicism, which outraged her Protestant country, and became a patron of the arts. Although her life was subject to criticism, Christina broke moulds and left an impressive cultural legacy.

In the 19th century, King Leopold II of Belgium caused one of the greatest scandals in modern history by ruling the Congo Free State as his personal domain. Under his administration, atrocities were committed against the local population to maximise profits from rubber extraction and other resources. Millions died or suffered mutilations, and Leopold's regime's brutality became an indelible stain on Belgium's history. One of the most tragic and dark episodes of monarchies.

The figure of Grigori Rasputin marked the final years of the Russian Empire, led by Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra. Rasputin was a mystic who claimed to have healing powers. His influence at court was perceived as a threat and severely damaged the Romanov family's reputation. The intrigues surrounding Rasputin, combined with Nicholas II's poor management during World War I, contributed to the collapse of the Russian monarchy and the 1917 Revolution.

Throughout the centuries, controversies have been constant companions of European monarchies. Today, as in the past, royals remain under public scrutiny and continue to be at the centre of controversies that put the institution on the edge.

In fact, in recent history, the love triangle involving the Prince of Wales, Lady Di, and Camilla Parker Bowles shook the British Crown. The marriage of Prince Charles to Diana Spencer was presented as a fairy tale, but it soon became clear that reality was very different. Over the years, the relationship crumbled due to incompatibility between the two and, above all, Charles's unwavering connection with Camilla, his lifelong love. Diana, in interviews like the iconic chat with Martin Bashir in 1995, revealed that "there were three of us in this marriage," a phrase that went down in history. After Diana's tragic death in 1997, the relationship between Charles and Camilla continued, culminating in their marriage in 2005 and their enthronement in 2022.

It was also a matter of love that tarnished the image of the Norwegian Crown. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway surprised the world with her relationship with Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed shaman of American origin known for his esoteric theories and controversial comments. This year, the couple sealed their union in a wedding that divided public opinion.

While some celebrated the princess's love, others criticised that the relationship damaged the seriousness of the royal family. Verrett has been accused of promoting pseudosciences, such as claiming that women can store negative energy in their uterus after sexual intercourse. A peculiar story has sparked debates about the boundaries between private and public life for royals.

The Norwegian Royal House was also embroiled in another recent episode: the arrest of Mette-Marit's eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, in a case related to drug possession and assaults on women. Although he holds no royal title, his connection to the family generates headlines whenever his behaviour deviates from expectations, keeping the country's public opinion on edge. Even the divorce of the heir, Prince Haakon, has been considered the only way out of this complex situation.

Returning to the British monarchy, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, finds himself at the centre of one of the biggest scandals to hit the firm: his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier accused of sex trafficking. The former husband of Sarah Ferguson was accused of having sexual relations with minors, and although he repeatedly denied it, his official role in the monarchy was annulled after the judicial settlement reached with the complainant.

Also at Buckingham Palace, the departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the British royal family, known as 'Megxit,' was a media earthquake. The couple cited pressures, lack of support, and racist comments towards Meghan within the Royal House. Their interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which they spoke of their suffering and how a family member expressed concern about their child's skin colour, was a devastating blow to the monarchy.

In Spain, the 'Nóos case' marked a turning point in the perception of the monarchy. Iñaki Urdangarin, husband of Infanta Cristina, was convicted of corruption, implicating his own wife and generating an unprecedented scandal. Although the Infanta was acquitted, the process severely damaged the royal family's image. Urdangarin served his sentence in prison, and the couple finally separated in 2022.

The next chapter was led by the emeritus king, Juan Carlos I, with his abrupt departure to Abu Dhabi in 2020 following a series of alleged financial frauds and personal controversies that threatened the stability of the Spanish monarchy. Investigations into his foreign accounts and alleged million-dollar gifts from Saudi Arabia tarnished his legacy. Moreover, his well-known fondness for women and his multiple extramarital affairs, such as those with Corinna Larsen, added fuel to the fire. This set of controversies, combined with media pressure, forced his son, the current King Felipe VI, to publicly distance himself from his father to preserve the institution's image.

Spain was also the scene of the controversy involving Prince Frederik of Denmark, who was photographed strolling through Madrid with Genoveva Casanova, the ex-wife of Cayetano Martínez de Irujo. Although both denied any romantic involvement, rumours of a possible relationship made headlines. This escapade sparked speculation about the state of his marriage to Princess Mary and reminded the public once again that even the most modern monarchies are not exempt from falling into the most mundane sins.