17 Royal Scandals the Palace Tried to Bury Forever

Culture & Society
By Catherine Hollis

Behind the crowns and castles, the royal world is anything but pristine. For centuries, monarchies across the globe have been rocked by secrets, affairs, betrayals—and outright cover-ups. From hidden children to explosive affairs, these are the royal scandals the palace hoped you’d never find out about.

1. Prince Andrew’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein

© BBC

The Duke of York’s friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein caused a royal firestorm. After a disastrous BBC interview, Andrew was stripped of royal duties—but the palace still won’t reveal everything.

2. King Edward VIII and the Nazi Sympathies

© Vanity Fair

Before abdicating for love, Edward VIII allegedly met with Hitler and supported appeasement. The royal archives have long kept a tight lid on how deep those sympathies ran.

3. Princess Diana’s Tell-All Interview

© Variety

In 1995, Diana shattered royal protocol by spilling family secrets to the BBC—including affairs and emotional neglect. The palace was livid, and the fallout still echoes today.

4. Prince Harry’s Nazi Costume

© Prince Harry’s memoir claims family encouraged him to wear Nazi costume at party | JNS | columbusjewishnews.com

At age 20, Prince Harry sparked global outrage when he wore a Nazi uniform to a costume party. The palace issued a quick apology, but many suspected deeper cultural issues within the royal household.

5. Prince Charles’s Affair with Camilla

© HistoryExtra

While married to Diana, Charles’s ongoing affair with Camilla Parker Bowles was a poorly kept secret. Leaked tapes of intimate conversations only made it worse—and embarrassed the monarchy for years.

6. The “Black Spider Memos” of King Charles III

© New York Post

Before becoming king, Charles sent controversial memos to politicians, attempting to influence policy. The royal household fought to keep them secret for over a decade.

7. Princess Margaret’s Forbidden Love

© Times Now

Margaret’s romance with Group Captain Peter Townsend—a divorced man—was crushed by palace pressure and outdated royal rules. The heartbreak played out under a strict royal media blackout.

8. The Death of Prince Albert Victor

© Factinate

Second in line to the throne in the 1890s, Albert Victor died young—some say suspiciously. Conspiracy theories still swirl, tying him to Jack the Ripper and other dark secrets.

9. Queen Victoria’s “Servant Confidant”

© Tatler

After Prince Albert’s death, Victoria grew close—very close—to her Scottish servant John Brown. Rumors of a secret marriage scandalized the court, and after her death, all personal correspondence was destroyed.

10. The Mysterious Death of King George V

© HistoryExtra

Officially, he died peacefully in 1936. But records later revealed his doctor injected him with morphine and cocaine to hasten death—so the news would make the morning papers.

11. Princess Anne’s Divorce—And Affair

© Marie Claire

Anne became the first British royal to divorce since Henry VIII. She later married her former lover, sparking whispers that the relationship began long before the split.

12. The Duchess of Kent’s Mental Health Battle

© HELLO! magazine

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, quietly withdrew from royal life after severe depression. The palace remained silent for years, refusing to publicly acknowledge her struggle.

13. King Juan Carlos’s Hidden Fortune

© The New York Times

Spain’s former king went into exile in 2020 after accusations of corruption and secret offshore accounts. Swiss bank ties and Saudi money remain under investigation.

14. Prince Albert of Monaco’s Secret Children

© Daily Mail

Before marrying Princess Charlene, Prince Albert admitted to fathering at least two children out of wedlock. One case required a paternity test and a court order.

15. The Meghan Markle Bullying Allegations

© Fox News

Ahead of her interview with Oprah, Meghan was accused of bullying palace staff—a claim she denied. Critics saw it as a coordinated smear campaign by royal insiders.

16. The “Firm’s” Gag Orders

© Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard

Over the decades, palace staff and insiders have signed strict non-disclosure agreements. Many say they witnessed abuse, silencing, and racism—but fear retaliation.

17. The “Blood Princess” Cover-Up

© Town & Country Magazine

In 1937, several British royals attended the funeral of Nazi-sympathizing relatives in Germany. Photos were buried for decades—and only surfaced long after World War II.