Professor Suzannah Lipscomb looks at a history of royal scandal, exploring the roles the press, parliament and public have played over the centuries. The first episode focuses on stories of out-of-control spending, from Henry VIII's Field of Cloth of Gold to the extraordinary debt that George IV accrued
Suzannah Lipscomb investigates some of the most notorious cold cases involving royals from the past. Did Queen Victoria's uncle murder his valet? And was our first Georgian king really involved in the mysterious disappearance of a Swedish count?
Dr Nicola Clark, Dr Katie Carpenter, Dr Alexandra Loske and journalist Stephen Bates help Suzannah Lipscomb unpack the stories of how royal marriages across the centuries have proved to be scandalous and intriguing. From the marriage that was deemed so wrong it caused George III to write a new law, to the first 'People's Princess' - Queen Caroline - who was put on trial by her husband George IV, and more recently Princess Margaret and her relationship with Peter Townsend
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb looks into four sex scandals that dragged the reputations of certain historical royals through the gutter. She explores how rumours of sexual indiscretions were used to target a formidable medieval queen and still follow her centuries on. Plus, Suzannah seeks to find out if 13-year-old King James VI of Scotland was groomed by his 37-year-old uncle, Esme Stewart.
Suzannah Lipscomb explores the long and complex connection between British royalty and witchcraft, and how Elizabeth I tried to predict the future.