logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2023
55m 44s

Royal Sibling Rifts

History Hit
About this episode

Just in case you haven’t heard, a certain prince has released a memoir recently detailing a challenging relationship between him and his brother, the heir to the throne.


But royal sibling rifts are nothing new, in fact we can trace it back centuries… and we’re doing just that on Betwixt the Sheets today.


Kate is joined by Gone Medieval’s Matt Lewis to talk about royal spats in the middle ages and the Tudor period, involving everything from chamber pot pranks to house arrests.


Kate is also joined by biographer Anne Sebba to talk about more recent regal rifts between the Duke of Windsor and King George VI, and of course, a bit about Prince William and Harry (not much, we promise).


*WARNING there are adult words and themes in this episode*


Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Sophie Gee.


Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.


For more History Hit content, subscribe to our newsletters here.


This podcast includes music from Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from a 1947 Coronet film.

Up next
Today
The Boleyn Who Betrayed Henry VIII
She was executed on Henry VIII's orders alongside Catherine Howard, and was sister-in-law to Anne Boleyn and the King. She lived in the heart of the Tudor court, and almost made it out alive.It was a time of huge danger, and such high stakes. But who was Jane Boleyn? Traitor, spy ... Show More
42m 40s
Oct 7
Inside Imperial Japan's Brothels
After the first licensed brothel opened in the 17th century, how was sex work thought of in Japan throughout the following centuries?From the brothels in the pleasure quarters, to the rise and popularity of male sex workers and where geishas fit into the picture, Kate is joined b ... Show More
50m 34s
Oct 3
The Scandalous Royal Mistress Who Ruled France
Is this strangest threesome in royal history?!We're endlessly fascinated with the lives of royal mistresses, and this has to be one of the most notorious.It takes place in 16th century France between Henry II, his wife Catherine de Medici and his much older mistress, Diane de Poi ... Show More
37m 45s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
Anne Boleyn & Katherine of Aragon: Rival Queens?
History has painted Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn in two very different hues: one wife, one mistress; one Spanish, one French; one committed Catholic, one radical reformer. But a new exhibition at Hever Castle examines one curious moment of confluence, right in the midst of ... Show More
20m 41s
Apr 2023
Catherine Howard: Henry VIII's Fifth Wife
Catherine Howard was Queen Consort - and fifth wife - to Henry VIII for just 16 months before he had her executed for treason for committing adultery. Since Victorian times, historians have labelled her as lewd and promiscuous, but there was an altogether more complex young woman ... Show More
52m 15s
Mar 2023
Katherine of Aragon: England's First Renaissance Queen
In preparation for International Women's Day this Wednesday, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb takes a look at a Queen whose reputation has largely been shaped by her husband's midlife crisis. History does not see much further than Katherine of Aragon's so-called failure to provide Hen ... Show More
34m 9s
Sep 2023
Rise of the Tudors
Join Dan as he rollicks through the tumultuous life and rise to power of Henry Tudor, the man who would ultimately become King Henry VII of England. Step back to the late 15th century, a period marked by conflict, political manoeuvring and alliances as a young Henry Tudor, having ... Show More
50m 39s
Jan 2024
Tudors in Love
From Henry VIII declaring himself as the ‘loyal and most assured servant’ of Anne Boleyn to the poems lavished on Elizabeth I by her suitors, the dramas of courtly love have captivated readers and dreamers for centuries.  In this edition of Not Just the Tudors, first released in ... Show More
39m 23s
Mar 2024
Queen Elizabeth I and Her V Card
This week is for the true history girlies! We are taking you through the life and reign of the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I. From her tumultuous upbringing as the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn to her rise to become one of England's most notable monarchs. We talk sister figh ... Show More
1h 15m
Aug 2023
Anne Boleyn part 1 for Tudor Week!
Who's that girl? It's Anne! Anne Boleyn is one of the most infamous figures in British history. Her short life is often defined by her marriage to King Henry VIII, her role in the English Reformation, and ultimately, her execution. However, in this episode (part of our Tudor Week ... Show More
58m 36s
Jun 2024
Catherine Parr - The Real Firebrand
Catherine Parr is remembered as Henry VIII’s 6th and final wife, the one who survived the murderous monarch. But while earlier wives, who ended their Queenship more tragically are glamorized, Catherine is often hidden in the background. The new film Firebrand tells the harrowing ... Show More
33m 12s
Mar 2024
The Tudor Dixon Podcast: Royal Family Drama with Ellie Hall
In this episode, Tudor explores the speculation and concern surrounding Kate Middleton's recent absence and surgery. Ellie Hall, a former Royal Reporter, provides insights into the inner workings of the Royal Family's PR machine and the tribalism that exists within it. The discus ... Show More
40m 2s