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The British royal family is steeped in tradition and fascination around the world. However, behind their polished public image lies a few skeletons in the closet they would rather keep hidden. From scandalous affairs to hidden health conditions, here are 25 secrets the royal family prefers not to discuss publicly.
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One such secret was Prince John, the youngest son of King George V. Born in 1905, Prince John suffered from epilepsy which worsened over time. While he carried out royal duties publicly, he was eventually secluded at Sandringham House due to his condition. When he tragically passed away at only 13 years old, the details of his illness and death were suppressed by the family for years.
The royal bloodline is also not as purely English as one may think. Queen Victoria had German ancestry through her mother, while her husband Prince Albert was German. In fact, every British monarch since William the Conqueror can trace lineage back to both William as well as King Alfred the Great and King Coel. To maintain "purity", royalty often married within the family, including Queen Elizabeth II who wed her third cousin Prince Philip. This tradition of inbreeding raises concerns about the health of the gene pool.
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One such product of inbreeding was Prince George, Duke of Kent who led a scandalous lifestyle in the early 20th century dedicated to sex and drugs. He frequented prostitutes and engaged in cocaine and morphine use. The royal family tried desperately to suppress these scandals and save his reputation by arranging his marriage.
The scandals didn't stop with Prince George either. Prince Andrew recently found himself at the center of a sex scandal involving his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of sexual assault when she was underage, which he denies. The scandal was a huge blow to the royal family's reputation.
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Even beloved Princess Diana wasn't immune to tabloid scandal. Her rocky marriage to Prince Charles was plagued by his long-term affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, which both Charles and Camilla now freely admit. Diana even told an explosive BBC interview that "there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." This shattered the illusion of a fairytale royal romance.
The newly-minted King Charles III also faced criticism over racist comments made decades ago during royal tours. In multiple countries, he made offensive remarks about Chinese and indigenous Australians that understandably caused public outrage. His record is quite different from his mother Queen Elizabeth II's consistent diplomacy.
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The royal family also preferred to keep some family members hidden from public view. During the 1940s and 1960s, the family confined and institutionalized two of Queen Elizabeth's first cousins, Nerissa and Katherine Bowes-Lyon, who suffered from developmental disabilities. The reported that the girls had died to cover up their hidden existence.
One of the more outlandish royal family secrets involves Prince Albert Victor, known as "Eddie", who was long rumored to be the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. While it was never proven, theories emerged in the 1960s suggesting Eddie's syphilis drove him to murder London prostitutes in 1888. The theory claims the royal family covered it up by having him committed.
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One of the more scandalous royals was King Henry VIII, infamous for his six marriages. He went as far as having two of his wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, beheaded after they failed to produce male heirs. His desire for a son led to the English Reformation and break from the Catholic church so he could divorce. Henry VIII established himself as head of the new Church of England and had complete control over religion in England.
Princess Margaret, sister to Queen Elizabeth II, also led a scandal-ridden personal life. She began smoking and drinking excessively as a teenager in rebellion against her royal duties. Her forbidden love affair with her father's equerry, Peter Townsend, in the 1950s caused public fascination and outrage due to his divorce. While the public supported them, the Church of England prohibited their marriage due to his marital status.
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Two modern royal scandals involve Sarah Ferguson and Prince Harry. In 1992, photos emerged of the recently separated Fergie having her toes sucked by her lover while on vacation. The photos caused a media frenzy. As for Prince Harry, in 2005 he attended a costume party dressed as a Nazi officer, sparking major backlash over his insensitive costume choice that recalled a traumatic era.
While the royal family strives to uphold a dignified public image, as with any family their history holds a fair share of scandals, secrets and humans flaws they'd prefer remain behind palace walls. From marital affairs to questionable connections and hidden health conditions, the Windsors are not immune to controversy despite their lofty social status. This just adds richer dimension to one of the most famous families in the world.
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In conclusion, the British royal family has had more than their fair share of scandals and controversies swept under the rug over the centuries. From illicit relationships and secret marriages to undiagnosed disabilities and rumored criminal connections, they have hidden many secrets from public view. While celebrating tradition and duty, the royals also show that regardless of social class, all families contain their share of drama and humanity when the curtains are drawn.
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