Royal Relatives Who Got Caught Up In Major Scandals

Many of us have been captivated by the glamour, mystery, and intrigue of royalty at one point or another, so who could resist a list of scandals involving some of the world's most well-known royal relatives as well? 

From financial corruption to eyebrow-raising romances, the world of royals isn't all fancy dinners and shiny diamonds. So, why do we love royal scandals so much? Is it the allure of wealth and power, or perhaps the sense of relatability when we see even the most regal figures stumble in the spotlight? Or, is it a case of royal schadenfreude; putting royals on a pedestal just to watch them fall? 

Whatever your personal reasons are, we've got the dish on the royal kin who have found themselves caught up in tabloid gossip, flashing cameras, corruption, and toe-sucking (yep, you read that right). Here are some royal relatives who got caught up in major scandals.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, has been entangled in a web of scandals that have significantly tainted his reputation. Most notably, his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been a source of immense controversy. Reports suggest that Andrew maintained a close friendship with Epstein, even after his conviction. The connection raised serious questions and criticism about the prince's judgment and ethics. But, it was court documents that accused Andrew of having sex with a then-underage Virginia Giuffre that really got him in trouble. He denied the allegations in an absolute car crash of an interview with the BBC in November 2019, in which he claimed he was at a Pizza Express in Woking that night. Giuffre's subsequent civil lawsuit against him led to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripping him of not only his military roles and royal patronages but even his HRH status in 2022.

While the Epstein controversy is a well-known stain on Prince Andrew's history, there are other shadowy connections in his life. Notably, he had dealings with controversial figures such as the former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. In 2008, reports suggest they dined together, engaging in discussions regarding oil trade with Libya. This association became a cause for concern, particularly as it occurred during a period when Gaddafi's regime was under intense international scrutiny. Gaddafi's troubling record of mistreating women also added to the unease surrounding this association.

The controversy surrounding Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and her wedding was closely entangled with her family's contentious past, notably her father, Jorge Zorreguieta, and his involvement with the Argentinan junta during the 1970s. Zorreguieta had a prominent political career within agricultural organizations, reaching the position of vice undersecretary of agriculture in the 1976 military junta led by former Argentine President Videla. This era was marked by the "Dirty War," a dark period in Argentine history characterized by severe human rights violations.

In spite of Jorge's assertions of ignorance regarding the atrocities committed during the "Dirty War," his close affiliations with the Videla regime generated significant apprehension in the lead-up to Queen Máxima's royal wedding. The Dutch parliament initiated an inquiry to determine if her father's past justified his exclusion from the wedding. The investigation concluded that while Jorge was likely aware of the regime's actions, Queen Máxima bore no responsibility for his actions.

Consequently, Máxima's father was unable to walk her down the aisle or attend the wedding. Her mother, María del Carmen Cerruti Carricart, technically could have been present at the wedding but chose not to attend alongside her husband. On February 2, 2002, Máxima married King Willem-Alexander, then the Prince of Orange, in Amsterdam. The exclusion of Jorge Zorreguieta from this significant event in his daughter's life was a reflection of the political sensitivities surrounding his past.

The Dutch were deeply divided over Princess Beatrix's engagement to German diplomat Claus von Amsberg. Claus' history included his prior participation in the Deutsches Jungvolk and the Hitler Youth, which were required parts of his upbringing at the time. Originating from an aristocratic yet untitled German family, Claus' life took a turn when he was conscripted into the German military in 1944 at the age of 18. He found himself on the front lines in Italy and was taken prisoner by American soldiers.

The timing of their engagement, which took place barely two decades after World War II, when anti-German feelings were still strong in the Netherlands, certainly raised eyebrows. This sparked protests, including the unnerving sight of orange Swastikas painted all across Amsterdam, and a 65,000-signature petition calling for the marriage to be forbidden.

Despite the initial backlash, Beatrix's parents — her father, Prince Bernhard, who was born in Germany — supported the pair as they set out on a national tour to build relationships with Dutch people and eventually won them over. Claus finally gained notoriety and grew to be a well-liked member of the royal family. Claus and Beatrix stayed married in spite of the initial hostility, and he lovingly stood by her side until his death in 2002.

Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, found herself embroiled in a controversial affair with Group Captain Peter Townsend which began in the 1950s and captivated the public and the royal family alike. Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend first crossed paths in 1944 when he served as an equerry to her father, King George VI.

Most scandalous was the fact that Margaret was just 14 at the time, and he allegedly called her, "as unremarkable as one would expect of a 14-year-old girl," per Town and Country. Lady Anne Glenconner, Princess Margaret's former Lady-In-Waiting, was not too happy about the way she felt Townsend had taken advantage of the situation. She told the Rosebud podcast, "She was very, very young. She was only 15 when he first arrived and he was a married man. I think he encouraged her, which he shouldn't have done."

Their relationship took a significant turn after the death of King George VI in 1952. Townsend initiated divorce proceedings in November of that year following allegations of his wife's infidelity. Margaret and Townsend discreetly concealed their connection until a pivotal moment on Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Day in 1953 when Margaret was caught affectionately removing lint from Townsend's jacket, a gesture with romantic connotations for the era. The government and Queen Elizabeth II vehemently resisted the notion of their marriage, citing Townsend's divorce, which was regarded as socially and morally unacceptable in the early 1950s.

King Edward VIII's life was marked by several scandals that had a lasting impact on the British monarchy. In 1936, Edward caused a constitutional crisis when he expressed his intention to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who was twice divorced. This union was considered unacceptable within the constraints of the British monarchy, as it conflicted with the Church of England's doctrine.

Faced with the dilemma of choosing between the throne and Simpson, Edward chose love over the crown. He famously abdicated on December 11, 1936, becoming the first British monarch to voluntarily give up the crown. He explained his decision in a radio broadcast, saying, "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love" (via Oxford).

Their relationship sparked public debates and a shift in the monarchy's leadership as his younger brother, King George VI, assumed the throne. Edward, now bearing the title of the Duke of Windsor, and Wallis Simpson relocated to France. The years leading up to and during World War II were marked by lingering suspicions and accusations regarding the Duke of Windsor's potential affiliations with Nazi Germany, although the depth of his involvement remains a subject of ongoing debate. Edward's life in exile, coupled with lingering questions about his connections to the Nazis, continued to captivate the public's imagination long after his departure from the throne.

Prince Ernst August of Hanover, the husband of Caroline of Monaco and a member of one of Europe's most prominent aristocratic families, has been embroiled in a series of high-profile lawsuits and physical altercations.

A legal conflict with his son, Ernst August von Hannover, started when he came into possession of the Marienburg castle and the adjacent Calenburg estate from his father during the mid-2000s. Unexpectedly, he later transferred ownership of Marienburg castle to the German government for a nominal €1, explaining that the extensive maintenance expenses were unsustainable. This triggered substantial discord concerning finances and property matters within the family. Consequently, Prince Ernst August initiated legal proceedings with the aim of reclaiming control over these properties.

Apart from his legal disputes, Prince Ernst August has been involved in a series of incidents. In 2022, he found himself in a confrontation in Austria resulting in the injury of a police officer while influenced by alcohol and medication. Interestingly, he had contacted the police expressing concerns about an employee who he believed posed a threat to him. However, upon their arrival, he verbally abused the officers, even threatening them with "the execution of their families," per the Daily Mail. A heated argument quickly transformed into a physical clash, leading to an officer's injury. Five days later, he brandished a baseball bat from a taxi, menacing a female police officer. Official charges were reported as he intended to strike the officer on her head and face.