Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things

Charles II's sexual appetite was infamously compared to a racehorse, and he revelled in reversing the social strictures that Oliver Cromwell had strictly enforced during the Interregnum. Unsurprisingly, Charles II had mistresses. And lots of them. But Charles II’s mistresses were so much more than footnotes in a new era of frivolity, parties and hedonism –  many of these women wielded significant...

What do you get when you mix a $20 million diamond necklace; a sycophantic cardinal; a con-artist; and Marie Antoinette? Only one of French history’s biggest royal scandals – a scandal that, arguably, led to the abolition of nearly a thousand years of French monarchy and the demise of France's final two monarchs on the guillotine. Join Kate Williams and Robert Hardman for a rollicking ride through...

On June 10 1688, Queen Mary of Modena, the Catholic wife of James II, gave birth to a son, James Francis Stewart.  Or did she? Join Kate Williams and Robert Hardman as they dive into one of royal history’s juiciest, and often forgotten, scandals: an event that should have been a joyous moment (a male heir - hurrah!) but one that instead unleashed a chain of events that would lead to mother, father...

Did Queen Victoria find comfort and love in the arms of a servant following the death of Prince Albert? What can we conclude from the Queen’s disregard for public, parliamentary and family concern about her close relationship with John Brown, the Scottish servant who found himself resident at Buckingham Palace? And, was the Queen so devoted to John Brown that they secretly married? Professor Kate...

When the peace of an Edinburgh night is shattered by an explosion and the Queen of Scotland’s husband is found dead, but no murderer can be found, the question is not only who killed the King Consort but why ? Join Professor Kate Williams and Robert Hardman as they uncover the suspects, the events and the motives behind a murder that definitively changed the course of Mary Queen Of Scots’ reign. Q...

Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things is the Daily Mail's unmissable podcast that promises listeners a weekly dose of royal history and intrigue by unpacking a different royal scandal each week.  Hosted by Daily Mail columnist and royal biographer Robert Hardman and historian Professor Kate Williams, each episode delves into the juiciest parts of royal history from eras past, and present... but main...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Wolferton Splash" the first episode of season 1 of The Crown. This episode focuses on the wedding and early years of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip's marriage, and the failing health of Princess Elizabeth's father King George VI. Find out: Did Winston Churchill heckle at Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip’s wedding? Did King...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Moondust" season 3, episode 7 of The Crown. This episode of The Crown shows Prince Phillip having a mid life crisis as he considers his faith and his place in the universe, all put into context as Neil Armstrong steps on the moon and a new Dean of Windsor is appointed. Find out: Is there evidence that Prince Phillip was having a mid l...

Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone sit down with Sam McAlister for a very special episode of the The Crown Fact or Fiction that focuses on Scoop, Netflix's film about Prince Andrew's disastrous Newsnight interview.   Scoop is based on Sam's first hand experience of booking Prince Andrew for Newsnight. Hear Sam tell the story behind the meetings, the planning, the recording and aftermath of the...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Marionettes" season 2, episode 5 of The Crown. This episode of The Crown depicts Queen Elizabeth II facing criticism from Lord Altrincham following a tone deaf speech at a Jaguar factory in Coventry before taking to the airwaves for the first ever televised Christmas message. If you'd like us to analyse a favourite episode of The Crow...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Aberfan" season 3, episode 3 of The Crown. This episode of The Crown depicts a reluctant Elizabeth 2nd questioning the appropriateness of her visiting Aberfan in the days following a disaster in the Welsh town, despite the insistence of those around her. Our thanks to Claire Heeley, Melissa Clark and Kelly Woods who all wrote in to su...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Ipatiev House" season 5, episode 6 of The Crown. This episode of The Crown delves into the history of the British royal family and portrays a strained marriage between the Queen and Prince Phillip while Britain forges a new relationship with Boris Yeltsin's Russia. Our thanks to Hannah from Hertfordshire who wrote in and suggested the...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Dear Mrs Kennedy" season 2, episode 8 of The Crown. This episode of The Crown portrays a rivalry taking place between the Queen and Jackie Kennedy, the first lady of the United States. Meanwhile, the Queen is trying to keep the commonwealth together, before the episode culminates in the news and aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassin...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Bubbikins" season 3, episode 4 of The Crown. The episode focusses on the BBC filming the Royal Family while Prince Phillip's mother, Princess Alice, moves into Buckingham Palace in the late 1960s. Our thanks to Paul Schlotthauer who suggested this episode. If you'd like us to analyse a favourite episode, get in touch at FactOrFiction@...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Gelignite" season 1, episode 6 of The Crown. Thanks to The episode focusses on Princess Margaret's relationship with Peter Townsend, our thanks to Nicole, one of our Canadian listeners who suggested this episode. If you'd like us to analyse a favourite episode, get in touch at FactOrFiction@mailonline.co.uk . Find out in this episode...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "48:1" season 4, episode 8 of The Crown. Find out: Did the Queen ask that Margaret Thatcher agree to trade sanctions on South Africa? Did the Queen really ask that her opinion of Margaret Thatcher be leaked to the press? What do we really know about the Queen's relationship with Margaret Thatcher? Plus much more.  Tell us which episode...

Join Robert Hardman and Natasha Livingstone for an analysis of "Paterfamilias" Season 2 Episode 9 of The Crown.  In this episode find out the truth of the circumstances that led to Prince Phillip's sister taking a tragic flight in 1937.  How did the Queen and Prince Phillip decide which school to send their children to?  Did The Crown get it right when depicting the "Gordonstoun Challenge?" Plus m...

This is the last of our imagined episodes of The Crown - our next episodes will be a return to analysing real episodes of The Crown!  This episode focuses on the "second sons" - Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.  Find out What happened when Prince Harry married Meghan and Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank. What happened after Oprah interviewed Meghan and Harry What happened after Andrew was i...

With Series 6 over and no more episodes of The Crown expected, Natasha Livingstone and Robert Hardman have stepped in to imagine what Series 7 could look like if a new series were commissioned and explain which events would be guaranteed to be covered along with some insights and trivia that might not make it to an adaptation.   This episode focuses on the events that followed after 2012 - the bir...

With Series 6 over and no more episodes of The Crown expected, Natasha Livingstone and Robert Hardman have stepped in to imagine what Series 7 could look like if a new series were commissioned.   In this podcast, find out which major events would be guaranteed to make an appearance in a future series of The Crown. This episode focuses on the events of 2012 - The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, The London...

With Series 6 over and no more episodes of The Crown expected, Natasha Livingstone and Robert Hardman have stepped in to imagine what Series 7 could look like if a new series were commissioned.   On this episode, find out which major events would be guaranteed to make an appearance in a future series of The Crown.   Find out: How has the Queen's role in politics changed over the years? Why is a hu...

Natasha Livingstone and Robert Hardman take a look at the final episode of Season 6 of The Crown, Sleep, Dearie, Sleep. This episode finds the Queen planning her funeral and questioning her role while Harry makes the headlines in fancy dress and Charles and Camilla get engaged and marry. Find out: Was The Queen's funeral under review as Charles planned to marry Camilla? Did Charles have to ask the...

Natasha Livingstone and Robert Hardman take a look at the penultimate episode of Season 6 of The Crown, Hope Street. Special guest Gary Goldsmith joins the show to talk about what it's like seeing his sister, Carole Middleton, and his niece Catherine, Princess of Wales, represented onscreen in The Crown, how he feels about his sister's portrayal and how accurate he feels the show is in general. Pl...

In this episode of the Crown: Fact or Fiction, Natasha Livingstone and Robert Hardman take a look at Ritz - Episode 8 of Season 6 of The Crown. This episode of the Crown splits its attention between the end of Princess Margaret's life and the story of the Queen and Princess Margaret's celebration in London on VE day. We answer the questions: What do we know about the Queen and Princess Margaret's...

In this episode of the Crown: Fact or Fiction, Natasha Livingstone, Robert Hardman and special guest, Rebecca English, the Mail’s Royal Editor, take a look at Alma Mater - Episode 7 of Season 6 of The Crown. This episode of the Crown focusses on William’s time at St Andrews and the beginnings of his relationship with his future wife, Kate Middleton.  Find out: Have the Crown got it right about Wil...