A History Of Royal Scandals – Series 2
Suzannah Lipscomb returns for an extended, six-part second series, delving further into a thousand-plus years of royal history. She and a range of expert guests explore allegations of murder, sex, witchcraft, crime, financial excess, and affairs within the British monarchy.
Episodes
Murder
Suzannah examines four suspected royal murder cases spanning almost 1,000 years, including the infamous disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the death of William the Conqueror's son, and asks why a bloody killing was carried out in a Scottish royal palace.
Sex
Suzannah looks into four sex scandals that dragged historical royal reputations through the mud — revealing how the multiple-partner exploits of the Georgian court helped fuel Britain's newly formed tabloid press, and investigating whether 13-year-old King James VI of Scotland was groomed by his 37-year-old uncle, Esmé Stewart.
Witchcraft
Suzannah explores the long and complex connection between British royalty and witchcraft — including how Elizabeth I tried to predict the future and sought the "real" philosopher's stone from alchemists, and how two British queens were accused of witchcraft.
Crime
Suzannah delves into how, across the centuries, members of the British royal family have been both victims and perpetrators of criminal acts, including how Henry VIII and his ministers manipulated the law to convict two of his wives of treason.
Money
Suzannah explores shocking examples of epic royal spending — from Elizabeth I insisting on touring the kingdom with her entire court at huge expense, to the 1821 coronation of George IV, so extravagant it ended a 1,000-year tradition of lavish post-coronation feasts.
Affairs
Suzannah uncovers historic royal affairs that shocked the public or were hidden away to avoid outcry — including an affair between a royal prince and a famous actress that scandalised Georgian society and produced ten illegitimate children, and Queen Elizabeth I's stepfather entering her bedroom semi-naked when she was just 13.