Royal Mistresses of the House of Hanover-Windsor
This fascinating and colourful romp through the annals of royal history gives rare insight into the lives and loves of rather rampant royals from the house of Hanover-Windsor. The detailed description of pomp and privilege is also a rather refreshing escape from coronavirus overload. Today’s royals, no matter how badly behaved, tone-deaf or spoiled, appear positively tame in comparison to their frisky and overindulged forbears. The apparent largely fictional The Crown Netflix series may beg to differ, but there is no doubt a wanton disregard for monogamy far exceeded current Royals norms. Marriage back then involved titles and bloodlines with the hope that love came later. In the 1800s, arranged marriages were made for ‘political, financial and dynastic reasons’ — mainly to produce the all-important heir. “Most of them compensated for loveless arranged marriages to German cousins by taking mistresses. Royal brides had to have blue blood and be virginal to prevent any chance of a cuckoo in the royal nest, so a prince marrying his mistress was unthinkable,” says the author. Camilla Parker Bowles …