The role of the royal mistress may, on the face of it, seem a simple position but in reality, there was a lot more to being a royal mistress than it might seem. Throughout the courts of Europe, the role of the royal mistress was often a semi formalised one and gave these women extraordinary influence and power. Joining Dan to discuss the importance of the mi ... Show More
Jul 10
Boudicca: Myths vs Reality
Boudicca, the warrior queen of the Iceni tribe, has become a symbol of resistance and British defiance. But what do we really know about her, and her bloody revolt against Roman rule? Dr Shushma Malik from the University of Cambridge joins us to untangle this mystery and explore ... Show More
31m 18s
Sep 2023
Sex & Scandal in Hampton Court
From Catherine Howard’s affairs whilst she was with Henry VIII, to Charles II’s mistress staging a lesbian wedding as part of a threesome… Hampton Court has seen it all.
Today’s guest is Gareth Russell, historian and author of The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Yea ... Show More
43m 56s
Sep 2022
Queen Elizabeth the Second, Part 2 of 2 (Repeat)
To mark the passing of the Queen, Noiser brings you this episode from the archive of Short History Of…As the Queen’s family life became more complex, the relationship between palace and press intensified. But balancing the need for security and privacy against her very public res ... Show More
54m 38s
Oct 2023
Bonus! 'Even the Royals' from Wondery+ – Marie Antoinette
Admit it: you’re obsessed with royal families – watching them, gossiping about them, wanting to be them. It’s the stuff of fantasy. But for real life royals, the crown jewels can be more like shiny handcuffs. There are expectations and rules – and if you break them, the consequen ... Show More
9m 28s