12 Surprising Royal Family Scandals & Secrets 👑 A Timeline of Infamy | Smithsonian Channel

From name changes and wild affairs to family feuds, the Royal Family’s history is full of secrets and scandals - here are some of the most surprising.
0:00 - Intro to 12 Surprising Royal Family Scandals
00:29 - Royal Family Changes Their Name
4:00 - Royal Family Faces Public Outrage
6:57 - Wallis Simpson Infiltrates the British Monarchy
11:07 - Queen Elizabeth's Marriage Raises Eyebrows
12:58 - Tabloids Latch on to Princess Margaret
15:05 - Royal Family Documentary is Locked Away
18:33 - Princess Diana Clashes w/ Stepmother
21:05 - Princes Diana Masters Art of Being Photographed
23:12 - Princess Diana Protects Son from Paparazzi
25:26 - Diana & Charles Feud in the Press
28:57 - Princess Di's Stepmother Is Evicted
31:55 - Windsor Castle Catches Fire
Private Lives of the Windsors: bitly.com/2nLjOgH
The Private Lives of the Monarchs: bitly.com/2LOLedQ
Princess Diana's Wicked Stepmother: bit.ly/2odkOKM
Diana and the Paparazzi: bit.ly/DianaPress
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[@the_Real_Grammy_of_6]

I’ve always felt so bad for Princess Diana and the reason Charles was forced (my opinion) to marry her - to give them an heir. But then if that didn’t happen, we would never have met Diana. Her charity work would not have happened. That was so important to her. And the people who said that she wasn’t pretty are right. She was gorgeous, inside and out!!!

[@thornbird6768]

Charles & Diana were not a love match ‼️ Diana just didn’t realise it 😢 he should have married Camilla many many years ago !

[@lisamorrison214]

Dickie needs an eye Check up. Diana was Gorgeous!

[@abbatrouble]

Not with that nose!

[@gillianr-w8720]

I saw her at ascot races once about a few feet from me and she was stunning.

[@ObamAmerican48]

All can be forgiven? They often became their own circular firing squad. Edward in cahoots with the Nazis? Unforgivable. Some in that family have suffered more than others: Princess Alice, Princess Margaret, the Bowes-Lyons cousins...

[@zennermansherman6625]

Do not forget the "Windsors" are from German Royal lineage...

[@MagdaleneDivine]

My mother had the Princess Diana Haircut all through the 80s and 90s

[@vivis9946]

Diana was absolutely beautiful!! If it was not for Diana, William would not be the future King and close to the people of UK. He is like his mother wanting to help, spending the night on the streets with homeless and hearing their stories. All without permission and not being spotted because it was about the people!! The Queen was angry as was Charles!! Catherine does her grocery shopping and cooks for the family and they all have breakfast in the kitchen! Something Diana did with her boys! Diana would let her son's eat in kitchen and if something on TV they wanted to watch she had TV TRAY'S in the television room and they would eat and spend that special time of just being relaxed and family time. Diana will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN 💗💗

[@glen7318]

what nonsense are you talking

[@kaleahcollins4567]

Harry is more like Princess Diana than William

[@Dawnsdelightsart]

They are public subjects, and the citizens pay for them so release the films.

[@MagdaleneDivine]

Y'all can say whatever but I miss Princess Diana. She's the only celebrity I ever cried at when they died.

[@lisabradford8180]

i miss her too, so much.........💔😢

[@ritahorvath8207]

She rests in peace together with Dodi. ⚘ 🕊

[@sarahwynn6486]

I bet all the wives who’s husbands she slept with didn’t

[@DoubleTroubles729]

Harry is not Charles son, Diana was sleeping with one of the Queens guards ‘Mark Dyer’, at the time, after Williams birth….. Harry is a ‘Spencer’ and only half brother to William but Harry is not a true blood prince, his only connection to the royal family is sharing Williams mother.

[@MagdaleneDivine]

@@DoubleTroubles729 OMG I HAVE THE SAME THEORY!

[@meglarosh4717]

This was not put together well.. very choppy and jumps from one video with no narrator

[@helenglasco2133]

Thank you guys..I love you

[@zennermansherman6625]

What I found interesting is that a Black Leader was never invited to Government House, the residence of the Royal Governor, when the Duke and Duchess were exiled to the Colony of The Bahama Islands.

[@glen7318]

whats your point

[@mattkaustickomments]

They are essentially expensive mascots.

[@dudegamingproductions5459]

Haha

[@justsayin8893]

Expensive low class trash dressed in silk and pearls.

[@elenikominos7404]

The Royals are actually Public Servants.

[@trudyneumann8945]

Yet they entice tourists to visit your country and spend tgeir money visiting as many palaces as possible. Think they make a fortune for your government and the British people.

[@robertsampson3772]

@@trudyneumann8945 they also spend a fortune but you are correct they bring in massive amounts of money

[@DelightLovesMovies]

I love Smithsonian Channel vids.

[@littlecherryful]

Princess Margaret was such a beautiful women. I never knew she was so unhappy with her life

[@tessah1730]

I thought she was quite average - she had tons of relationships and to me seemed like she needed alot of inner healing - she seemed so empty trying to fill a big void - we'lll never know the whole story I guess

[@christineyetman640]

yes..poor margaret...she wasnt allowed to marry her true love either...told no by the queen herself....how absurd

[@lonerose99]

Imo the story of the heir and the spare has always been an interesting one in the House of Windsor. Edward VIII and George VI, Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, now Prince William and Prince Harry. Wonder what the story will be between Prince George and Princess Charlotte in years to come.

[@millardfillmore1331]

THE TALE IS THAT SHE GOT AIDS BY DOING EVERYBODY IN THE CARIBBEAN.....I DIDN'T MAKE THAT UP EITHER. I THOUGHT EVERYBODY KNEW THAT....

[@elizabethcompton738]

Don't cry too much for her. She was spoiled, selfish, self-centered, thoughtless, mean to get staff and brought a lot of her misery upon herself.

[@shathamohamed112]

12:48 wasn't pretty !!!!!! She was a masterpiece of a beauty

[@msmo2060]

I can’t believe they said that.... I think she was gorgeous .... she looked so good , can you imagine now with all the makeup contour & highlighting ?

[@sarahwynn6486]

She so wasn’t

[@abbatrouble]

She had a gorgeous smile but she was never a beauty like Grace Kelly or Mary of Denmark!

[@the_Real_Grammy_of_6]

This story skipped right over Edward walking away from the throne

[@hamerjohn]

don't think he should have married simpson

[@EZeePZee86]

RIP she lived one heck of a life.

[@CambodiaMonkeyStyle]

Thanks for showing us ❤️ king family detail

[@bostonblackie9503]

If they have an American doing the narration they should find out the British pronouncation of words. Louis is pronounced as the French would, it is not Lewis. One of the few words mispronounced.

[@jennywankenobi1678]

As you complain through an American app/platform 😂

[@lisabradford8180]

@@jennywankenobi1678 those people are always complaining about something. that and being judgemental.

[@BillyAlabama]

The music is a major and annoying distraction.

[@jyeprice9382]

A car crash from the very beginning. Was either very telling or very tasteles.

[@Tawadeb]

“I danced with a man who danced with a girl who danced with the Prince of Wales”

[@marykelly1723]

🤭

[@davidarundel6187]

I've met him twice , and Camilla once .

[@elizabethcompton738]

Just because Wallis Warfield was from a "respectable" family doesn't mean she was respectable. She had a reputation as a teenager and never changed.

[@glen7318]

what was this reputation?

[@flapper7997]

Where is the full version of this

[@cleverfitz779]

Good evening everyone

[@pattyburge655]

Saying Diana was not pretty, but was merely attractive, is like saying a banana is not a fruit, but is merely yellow. The size of her nose was not within it's self the determining factor of her overall beauty, especially when she has so many striking features that made her absolutely gorgeous. Diana stood head and shoulders above many super top models of her day. Super models like Gisele Bundchen, Julia Nobis, Anne Catherine Lacroix and Anna Van Ravenstein all have elongated noses, but are absolutely beautiful nonetheless. No?

[@gjcaudera]

I never noticed her nose. She was so beautiful in so many other ways.

[@sarahwynn6486]

She wasn’t that attractive

[@chayegr]

@@sarahwynn6486 let's see your mugg Sarah lol Cause Thousands would beg to differ with this opinion of yours lol

[@LambsyLamb]

Diana was OK, Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson is way more attractive in a classic sense!

[@julieianson.com2722]

@@chayegr That's right an opinion, her opinion that she has a right to voice. There all nothing more than self appointed rif raf and that is my opinion.

[@brassicaolaraceaolaracea1115]

...as long as they get their hands on sweeeet moneyyyyy...

[@dudegamingproductions5459]

They wont stop

[@tammya123]

wow the man near the end tells the truth about beautiful.

[@lizzdoe2821]

Good gracious!! The thing the royal family doesn’t understand is that their power is supposed to go towards helping the people they reign over. Diana understood this and used her fame to bring attention to issues harming people. The focus should be caring for others and focusing on making the world a better place for those around you. The royal family seems to put their focus on their image and traditions.

[@lindagithaiga1974]

Sure.Diana was a real soul against the cold souls surrounding her.

[@ritahorvath8207]

Rest in peace Diana and Dodi. ⚘ 🕊

[@theelusive1322]

Facts

[@bobbiejones9266]

I don't think they are as rigid as they used to be. In her later years, especially after Diana's death, I saw a softening in HMTQ. She appeared more approachable, more friendly, more interested in people, and more caring of the plight of ordinary people. I really believe the RF do a good job of bringing attention to charities and foundations that help people. It seems to me the most Royals divert attention from themselves to the cause they are representing and show a lot of care and a genuine empathy for others. It is also apparent that the happier they appear in their private lives the more humane and caring of others they seem to be. The only ones I see doing all they can to put themselves in the limelight and begging for attention to all be on them is Harry and Meghan, and we all see where that has gotten them!! They are no longer working Royals and and have turned people against them by their attitudes and actions. The current members of the Monarchy are much more down to Earth and caring of others.

[@sarahwynn6486]

Lol Diana did to other women exactly what she accused Charles of doing to her ! She slept with their husbands

[@annetteelliott1494]

Its not a scandal , it shows that theyare just normal human beings like the rest of us......

[@sarahwynn6486]

Looking down then up was a way to manipulate

[@Stephanie-zd5im]

Yep.

[@andytaylor5960]

My Queen will always be Diana❤

[@ritahorvath8207]

She rests in peace together with Dodi. ⚘ 🕊

[@judijohnson5555]

I totally agree ❤️

[@sarahwynn6486]

Do you’re not happy to have camilla who you say is an adulterous woman yet you’d be happy to have Diana who slept with other womens husbands? Lol

[@margaretlouise6200]

Wallace was a combination of Edward's parents.... "hard as nails" by Edward's description, often rejecting....just as they were. He didn't like them, but replicated them in Wallace. We all do that you know, to the good or to the bad...it's just with him the results were much, much LOUDER.

[@dorothymatthews590]

F

[@deborahklinlger8565]

Wallis not Wallace.

[@zennermansherman6625]

She looked like a bloody crossdresser!

[@justsomepersononyoutube9271]

Hi

[@spideywhiplash]

I want to see a documentary on that dreadful Raine Woman!

[@ravinp371]

For goodness sakes STOP asking penny junor about princess Diana!

[@lisamorrison214]

Thank you! She’s extremely biased.

[@abbatrouble]

@@lisamorrison214 I think the majority of journalists were biased when they knew about Diana's many affairs and covered them up!

[@margaretblyth8534]

I read one of Penny Junor's books about Charles. She was so.biased it was sickening. She didn't have a good word to say about Diana

[@eldorajohnson3894]

Like William vs Harry

[@jessicaboyd3539]

“The Margaret look” no. They didn’t call it that I need a citation😂

[@ItsmeA717]

😂😂😂

[@NubianQueen100]

I love how she NEVER gave prince Philip the title of being KING ....smart woman...

[@sarahwynn6486]

He was never going to be king you have to be BORN into the royal family to be king or queen ….

[@barbarachippel3142]

He would have been King Consort. Charles would still have been King after his mother died. 😭

[@joycebrown1413]

That was Parliament and Prime minister Winston Churchill doing. Plus the British law, why people keep forgetting Parliament. Not a absolute Monarchy any more Parliament and Elizabeth ll and Philip's children last name. Research!

[@elizabethcompton738]

Constitutionally, she couldn't.

[@glen7318]

@@barbarachippel3142 dont talk nonsense. tehre are no kings consort in the UK

[@Sharon_Mc]

🇬🇧 My Great Aunt was cook to Wallis Simpson when she stayed at the Beach House Felixstowe awaiting her divorce. Also my birth Mother's second husband, Gordon Rogers ( of the Rogers Brothers Felixstowe ,) bought Harvest House, Cobold Road, Felixstowe, where Wallis and Edward 8th spent some time. At the time Harvest House was a hotel.

[@anuranjantekade1106]

India also contribute in WW1

[@kmclrz67]

Over one million Indian troops served overseas, of whom 62,000 died and another 67,000 were wounded. In total at least 74,187 Indian soldiers died during the war. In World War I the Indian Army fought against the German Empire on the Western Front. From Wikipedia.

[@shellc6743]

All Commonwealth countries did.

[@extraterrestrian]

Interesting

[@deborahklinlger8565]

With Margaret there came a cost either all the wild partying & drinking & smoking her health suffers with strokes & an early death as opposed to Elizabeth her sister & the queen mother whom were not smokers.

[@Rodmic-hd9pn]

I think that’s her normal way of being and the way she looked. She learned as she went on.

[@keetahbrough]

She still got the taxpayer to fork over the money to fix her second home lol

[@joycebrown1413]

No she paid for Windsor Castle repairs after that fire. Sigh

[@alanbrady7116]

Don't give them access to the duchy

[@tracyotrhuiskamp1012]

I think when Charles finalizes his “slimmed down” monarchy just him Camilla and William and Kate he will bore the monarchy to death

[@shellc6743]

Camilla is very unpopular, few like Charles either.

[@sheilabatey492]

@@shellc6743 I'm sorry, I have to disagree, I like Charles and Camilla. I do agree, the Royals do need to be slimmed down. We really do not need the likes of Andrew and his off springs

[@shellc6743]

@@sheilabatey492 So you are happy to have two lying adulterers on the throne ... two people who did not keep their vows ... I'm sorry but that is ridiculous.

[@rosestewart1606]

if he slims the senior royals down too much, I guess the Commonwealth will end. 4 people can't do everything.

[@vorcedemonize5247]

@@shellc6743 lol Philip probably didn’t keeps hos vows, almost every member of the royal family has cheated, been divorced or involved in some ridiculous scandel

[@mariahess1319]

Love Royal family after all they human Will not watch the crown.

[@flapper7997]

I think if u watch knowing that is like 70% true u will enjoy it. I'm a royalist 💯 love watching the crown .

[@abbatrouble]

@@flapper7997 I love watching it, too BUT I think it's much less than 70% true.

[@carolharley2180]

Yes ! Charles was forced to find a wife he had no choice. The grandmother of Charles picked Di and her and Diannas grandmother put that deal together. Poor Dianna got used ..Charlie was never going to give Camela up. Everything was done to cement up the firm. I am sure her boys are now aware of what happened...William knows his place ...and has accepted it. Harry is furious and will never be content until he confronts his father .

[@darrylkennedy2125]

Harry's father isn't Chucky boy.

[@ritahorvath8207]

Rest in peace Dianna and Dodi. ⚘ 🕊

[@evelynmarks2212]

At least Harry has the good sense not to be a puppet.

[@Ripleys_mom]

@@evelynmarks2212 Harry's family gave him everything. His response was to act like a clown and throw them under a bus. William and Harry both love their mother but William is more realistic about her.

[@mr.rightnow.7300]

@@darrylkennedy2125 Then who is? She didn't meet Hewitt until Harry was already two, so come off it. That one's old, and very easily researched.

[@melisa8256]

I’m an American and at this time I’ve no business being judge Judy. I would honestly like to know how, those who live under a Queens/Kings rule, really feel about Their Royal Family. Any Royal Family for that matter. Do you all (or most) love & adore them, hang their pictures in your home’s etc.?

[@kimphilpin1062]

I think once many moons ago many people had photographs of the royals, but today it is not so much of a thing. I see many older generations passing away and our younger people maybe do not view it as our parents did. I am nearly 60 and I do not view our royals as my parents did. My parents viewed them with memories of how they were in the 2nd world War. Hands on in a way, going to see the people. But this is only my view and I am sure others will feel different.

[@Juan-ps3gg]

I am from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, so our monarchy is different than the British one, but here are the opinions about our royal family and royal House divided. Although a lot of people still support the monarchy, i believe that a lot of young people nowadays don’t know a lot about the monarchy and think that it is useless. I am 16 years so i think that i am one of the few people of my age who has really looked into the forms of government and like republic or monarchy ( Absolute monarchy, Semi-Constitutional, Constitutional monarchy) and i find that the monarchy (semi-constitutional)is still for me one of the best forms of government. But i am afraid that the amount of people who don’t know a lot about it and that because of not having a lot of knowledge about it, the amount of people who don’t like the monarchy will rise

[@amritkaur2800]

our king, during partition he gave up his palace for refugees to settle in. Those refugees still live there. He was a real king. Another king, he is still known as best ruler in the world. But our bests are lost. It's sad

[@melisa8256]

@@amritkaur2800 That’s incredibly kind. I’m sorry but I do not know of the King you’re speaking about.

[@amritkaur2800]

@@melisa8256Nawab Ahmed Ali Khan and his son Iftikhar Ali khan of malerkotla. Last member died in 1982 and his his begum(queen) is still alive. Second king I talked about was Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He is well known. Our all Kings were kind, there was very rare case where they were cruel or ruthless. They had their luxuries but they thought about their people too. All kingly houses were dissolved by our government. Very few left

[@helenglasco2133]

Fake it till you make it..they are Sad people with evil hearts..Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand...

[@ravinp371]

Lady Grantham!

[@brucel.2919]

is it true that the queen drank children's blood? for longevity?

[@abbatrouble]

You've got her mixed up with Hillary Clinton!

[@janlittle2148]

Don't be ridiculous

[@codefree369]

Along with the rest of the sick elites. All things which seem too strange to be real......like things which seem too real to be strange, are just a perception your being manipulated with.

[@karenacton3854]

Let’s compare Diana and Camilla…..then we’ll talk. Even Charles wasn’t a chick magnet.

[@candycoatedcyanide3267]

I’m sorry but how is having a public wedding going to satisfy me if I’m starving ☹️... honestly these people are dense. No wonder Marie Antoinette don’t have a head ...

[@harrytree7808]

Sadly, other little known scandals is that of the eldest son of Edward and Alexendra, who was born unannounced, baptized and abandoned in 1862. Unfortunately, like their relatives the Romanov Royal Family, the descendents of this unknown Royal are being shunned by both their English and Danish Royal Families, with the Danish Monarch, shortly after being contacted, abdicating. Perhaps this revelation explains the lengthy term of secrecy surrounding the wills of the former Monarch Queen Elizabeth 2nd and her husband, Prince Philip, as well as the destruction of Royal papers both currently and previously in an attempt to keep these descendents and their circumstances from public knowledge. The evidence is in the irrefutable DNA of these relatives but sadly, the male members are now dying of fatal medical issues, which might, or not, be a coincidence... Please share, their lives may be depending on the wider publicity of their existence 🙏

[@Rodmic-hd9pn]

I think she was a natural. I don’t think she was being spiteful

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

Interesting, but that GHASTLY racket in the foreground made it difficult to concentrate. Did the Sound Engineer overdose on something?

[@Rodmic-hd9pn]

He was soooo cute

[@sherrildawson9698]

What about Andrew?

[@trippleg5824]

I dont Get why I’m need royal family? To support them with money and power.?

[@vickyarnett6057]

Music do I they've never once invited me to dinner shocking

[@Solbelizaldetv]

Have you watched the Crown Series??? Hmm 🤔

[@abbatrouble]

Is there anyone dumb enough to believe that The Crown is factual?

[@GracieAckerman]

Haha the woman in the red coat is a brilliant propagandist

[@jessicacarapella9955]

Diana was very, very pretty. I hate that the photographer said she was "attractive" but not pretty.

[@sandrosantos3622]

Your life standards are really low, if that bothers you.

[@ritahorvath8207]

Rest in peace Diana and Dodi. ⚘ 🕊

[@shellc6743]

This is mostly nonsense ..........

[@keetahbrough]

As stuffy as Diana's brother is, I always enjoyed how frank he is.. considering.

[@lisabradford8180]

@The Dark Twizzler i'll never forget his eulogy, thought it was wonderful👍💖

[@pamelacox540]

Diana asked her brother permission to stay at Althrop after the divorce. Her brother refused. Her brother also righteously abused his first wife. So he’s probably the last person to criticize the royal family.

[@ritahorvath8207]

@@pamelacox540 👍

[@abbatrouble]

@@pamelacox540 Earl Spencer did NOT refuse her and that is another one of her lies. She wanted the cottage near the gate where the public could see her come and go. Ear Spencer told her that it would be a security nightmare and that she could have any other house on the estate but she refused.

[@glen7318]

@@pamelacox540 rubbish.

[@ZAGIBA51]

The only real scandal was when Henry the 8th kept killing his wives. Chopping off heads because you can’t her pregnant is a little extreme. The rest pheww no contest

[@stacyharris4824]

Uh yeah, why don't you talk about how the Smithson lied to the world and hid or destroyed all the giant skeletons and continue to lie about history!!!

[@bobbiguile9210]

Edward and Harry need I say more

[@elizabethcompton738]

Andrew! 'Nuff said!

[@zennermansherman6625]

There is NO moral equivalency!!! Come on... 😏

[@joycebrown1413]

Old News

[@sarahholt5575]

Why does this lady narrating sound like MM?

[@malgorzatamalecka3865]

17:30 min A kto gotowal ?

[@mortalclown3812]

It's like 8th graders made this video.

[@karenroberts9712]

Was William saying dirt to the photographer's ??

[@lonerose99]

Wanted to know what "that" was, Charles told him camera, and he said "oh".

[@tessah1730]

notice how meghans dress and hair are nearly identicle to Wallis - hmmmmmmmmmm - they love their symbolism

[@lisamorrison214]

Not even

[@Ionabrodie69]

Yanks wittering on about our Royals AGAIN…🙄and they keep saying they aren’t interested..🙄😂😂🇬🇧

[@acey850]

People who think the monarchy should be abolished are short sighted.

[@dudegamingproductions5459]

Whats abolish Is it destroying

[@dudegamingproductions5459]

@Gabriel Afonso ?

[@dudegamingproductions5459]

@Gabriel Afonso ok

[@TAYGETAnguyen]

What? Lol

[@TheBlairWenchProject]

@@dudegamingproductions5459 yes

[@amyclarke41]

ok

[@BestOfAnimalss]

Good! First

[@kimberlypotts516]

Their last name is not mountbatten or windsor for i am related to them as a cousin by blood so they dont help their family out cause my grandpa potts is related to them where his family left from england ireland and scotland but it had to be a female side that is related to them but potts is scottish this is why his family wanted no parts of them

[@sarahwynn6486]

Course you are …..

[@sarahwynn6486]

Lol their last name is Windsor so stop lying

[@tessah1730]

Margaret staggering beauty??????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what ? she was very average looking

[@sarahwynn6486]

So was Diana

[@tessah1730]

@@sarahwynn6486 hmm better than marg but I never thought diana was a major beauty

[@ageeibc6029]

Jesus went all way out to win the hearts & minds of the people. He gave His life & was finally put to shame by baring all, including His body. Oh, old 🥜 Meg4D did it the opposite way. She traded it for cash & human comfort. There is a thin line between To serve or Be served. Where the attention lies is the end result & who are your faithful followers to the end.

[@jimandmaureendavies4708]

O

[@SubZero-dd6dq]

2nd!

[@bilbobaggins7490]

Charles was behind Covid 19.

[@janlittle2148]

😁😁😁😁

[@earlnovero8208]

Hatdog

[@shotalen13]

First

[@jsr1037]

1st

[@earlnovero8208]

Hakdog

[@earlnovero8208]

Hotdog

[@claremccarthy6050]

Thought her nose to big but her eyes sparkled when she was generally happy.she got better with age.where Charles is weak man carmilite will never get my respect she was Ur ore.i don't think head of church devoiurse aswell shouldn't b aloud willaim and real queen kate