Page 51 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

14

Notorious
Royal
Philandering Mistresses

kings and their

illicit brood

With every royal affair came the risk of pregnancy. While some
monarchs and mistresses openly embraced and flaunted their
offspring, others were eager to keep them under wraps. For example,
Charles II acknowledged most of his illegitimate children, and made
sure that they were well provided for. By contrast, Henry VIII was so
discreet about his extra-marital affairs that it is unclear precisely how
many illegitimatechildrenhehad.
ISMAIL OF MOROCCO
Number of illegitimate children: 888–1,000

5 HENRY I OF ENGLAND

Number of illegitimate children: 15
acknowledged, but perhaps as many as 25

Royal lover: Edward VIII of England Years as mistress: 1934-72
CHARLES II OF ENGLAND
he daughter of an unsuccessful American businessman, Wallis’s story was Number of illegitimate children: 14 – 16
a classic case of rags to riches. On 10 January 1931, in the house of Lady
T Furness in Melton Mowbray, Wallis met the man who would become her
third husband: Edward, prince of Wales. By 1934, Edward had become completely
dependent upon Wallis, and despite his position as heir to the throne and the
fact that Wallis had been married twice, he was determined to make her his wife.
Edward’s love for Wallis did not fade when, on 20 January 1936, he ascended the LOUIS XIV OF FRANCE
throne as Edward VIII. By this time their affair was public, but there was one major Number of illegitimate children: 12
obstacle: Wallis was in the process of divorcing her second husband, Ernest Simpson,
and the whole situation was causing a scandal. Realising he was unable to marry her
and retain his throne, Edward refused to give Wallis up – even if it meant abdication.
Wallis, however, was determined that her lover ought not to abdicate, and tried every
method of persuasion to convince him. But his love for Wallis overcame his sense of WILLIAM IV OF ENGLAND
royal duty and, on 11 December 1936, Edward VIII abdicated in favour of his younger
brother, who succeeded as George VI. Edward instead took up the title of Duke of Number of illegitimate children: 10
Windsor, and following her divorce, Edward and Wallis were married in Touraine.
The Windsors spent the rest of their married life together living abroad, and, despite
their marriage, Wallis was not accepted or received by the royal family.
MAGNUS III OF NORWAY

Number of illegitimate children: 5
Suffi ce to say she changed his life acknowledged, but possibly 8
Just by being another chap’s wife
Th ey said, “Would you mind,

If you left her behind?” CHARLESV,HOLYROMAN
Number of illegitimate
And jabbed in his back with a knife EMPEROR children: 4 or possibly 5

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