The 5 Biggest Royal Scandals You Never Knew About
The history of the Royal Family has never been short of drama, so much so that the award-winning Netflix production ‘The Crown’ has achieved worldwide popularity by dramatizing Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
While many of the Royal Family’s ups and downs have been widely publicized, some have slipped under the radar, and others where certain details have avoided detection until now.
Continue reading to discover some of the biggest scandals and shocks that you might not know about.
The Tranby Croft Affair
Gambling has long been a part of British history and has grown to be a multi-million-pound industry for those involved. Technological developments have aided its growth and online betting is now a popular activity for many.
Crypto expert Michael Graw whose work includes finding Roobet alternatives explains how modern technology has furthered the industry by allowing a variety of payment methods, including cryptocurrencies.
While online and modern betting facilities offer robust protections for users and precautions against fraudulent activity, the betting industry has not always been this secure.
The Tranby Croft affair, which is also referred to as the Royal Baccarat Scandal, took place in 1890 when Lieutenant Colonel of the Scots Guards Sir William Gordon-Cumming was accused by his hosts of cheating by adding to his existing stake.
He was in attendance as a friend of the then Prince of Wales and soon-to-be King Edward VII. Following advice from Royal courtiers, it was agreed that Gordon-Cumming would sign a document that would see him agree to never again play cards.
Despite an agreement that the guests would remain quiet about this, the news broke and the Prince of Wales made the first appearance in court of an heir to the throne since 1411.
Gordon-Cumming was found guilty and lost his position in the British Army before being shunned from society.
With intense security around modern betting and crypto gambling, it is unlikely that such a high-profile case like this could happen again, especially with protocols around Royal activity.
Princess Margaret's Doomed Love
There have been countless stories of failed relationships and scandals within the Royal Family, but Princess Margaret's story is a sad one.
It began when she fell in love with a Royal Air Force officer, Captain Peter Townsend, who happened to be married. He went on to divorce his wife and proposed to Margaret in 1953. However, with Church of England rules forbidding such a marriage, the engagement was doomed from the start and the relationship ended in 1955.
Margaret went on to marry Anthony Armstrong Jones but this relationship also fell apart and she became the first member of the Royal Family to divorce since the 1500's during Henry VIII's reign.
Prince Harry's Short Rehab Stint
Prince Harry was no stranger to scandal before his move to America. While his brief dalliance with marijuana hit the headlines when he was 17, not many know that he visited rehab.
However, it was not an extended stay to get clean. Instead, the young Prince visited for one day to learn more about the consequences of taking drugs.
Charles and Diana's Close Call
The scandals and tragedy surrounding King Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage are well known, but it is not as widely reported as to how close they came to tragedy.
A 1983 plot to assassinate the Prince and Princess while they enjoyed a Duran Duran concert was thwarted by inside intelligence. The IRA plot would have seen Sean O’Callaghan plant the bomb which would be detonated during the performance at the Dominion Theater in London.
Thankfully, Sean O’Callaghan was a police informer and Scotland Yard was able to leak information which helped end the plan without arousing suspicion.
Security Lapse at Buckingham Palace
The story of how an intruder with a shard of glass could gain entry to the Queen's bedroom while she slept could have ended a lot differently. While nobody was hurt, the fact that overnight police had left their post early and her footman was walking her dogs meant nobody could answer her alarm call.
Final Thoughts
The fascinating history of the Royal Family has many twists and turns, and there will be plenty more scandals and shocks that have been hidden from the public over the years. Supporters will be hoping that these will be confined to the past and the Royals can look forward to a bright future.
