Exploring the strange and fascinating lives of rulers, royals, and royalty all around the world and throughout history.

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Royalty

Television has always been enchanted by the grandeur and drama of monarchies, making shows about kings and queens a popular genre. The list below focuses on the best TV shows about kings and queens, highlighting both historical and contemporary royal narratives. From the iconic British and French monarchies to the captivating rulers from other parts of the world, these monarchy TV series have a unique way of drawing viewers into their regal worlds.Among these, The Crown stands out as a prime example of a TV series about queens, offering an unprecedented look into the life of Queen Elizabeth II. It's a show that beautifully blends the personal and the political aspects of being a monarch. Meanwhile, The Tudors, another notable king and queen TV series, transports viewers back to the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/reign-of-henry-viii-small-details/setareh-janda?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">reign of Henry VIII</a>, merging political intrigue with personal drama.This list, crafted by TV aficionados, invites you to join in with over 3K other voters in ranking the TV shows with kings and queens. Your votes help determine which series truly capture the essence of royal life. So, dive into this collection of series about royalty, cast your votes, and see where your favorites land.

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The Greatest TV Shows About Kings &amp; Queens

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The 40+ Best TV Shows About Kings & Queens, Ranked

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is no stranger to the spotlight. As the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Andrew's marriage to Sarah Ferguson was constant fodder for the tabloids. Andrew's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his alleged financial and sexual misconduct, and his overall controversial behavior has also been in headlines for decades.In 2026, the former Prince was arrested for suspicion of misconduct while in public office. This arrest came on the heels of Andrew losing his titles and honors during the preceding years. It was also inextricably linked Andrew's ties to Epstein.Andrew's fall from grace has been complicated as well as shocking. Here's how it happened and the role Epstein played in Andrew's troubled past.

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Connections Between Former Prince Andrew And Jeffrey Epstein, Explained

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A Timeline Of Andrew Mountbatten-WIndsor And Jeffrey Epstein's Relationship

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Money

Throughout history, wealthy&nbsp;people &ndash;&nbsp;like many <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-monarch_s)/reference" target="_blank">notable kings</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;had extravagant weddings. For these inestimably costly ceremonies,&nbsp;pre-celebration festivities often&nbsp;included very lavish dowries on behalf of the new brides. Sometimes, these nuptials that involved famous dowries took place between <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey" target="_blank">weird royals</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;like uncles and nieces and already closely related cousins.&nbsp;But who had the&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;dowry&nbsp;in&nbsp;history?

A fair number of medieval and early modern princesses and archduchesses were given lots of land as their dowries, and their husbands wed them for the promise&nbsp;of significant revenue&nbsp;from these properties. Sometimes, these territories were so vast they&#39;re nearly unthinkable. For example, Eleanor of Aquitaine&nbsp;brought the rulership of most of southwestern France &ndash;&nbsp;her duchy of Aquitaine&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;to both of her husbands. Anne of Denmark wed Eleanor&#39;s descendant, James VI of Scotland/I of England, and brought the Orkney Isles with her. But was this the&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;dowry&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;world?

Other wives have brought a ton of cash with them to their newly minted husbands. Modern-day royal Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, apparently brought $200 million to her husband, while Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza&nbsp;gave her spouse, Charles II of England, trading rights all over the world.

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The Most Lavish Dowries In History

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Historical Entertainment

What are the most inaccurate <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">movies about royals</a>? Whether depicting love affairs that never happened or covering up unsavory politics, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film" target="_blank">royal biopics</a>&nbsp;on this list don't tell the full - or even the real - story about kings and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-queens/mallory-weiler?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">queens in history</a>.Historians evaluate the accuracy of films in two ways: by policing the nitty-gritty historical facts that the movie depicts,&nbsp;and by analyzing the overall truth that the film is communicating about a person, event, or era. Historical facts often get manipulated for the sake of narrative necessity. Worse, many films are inaccurate by omission, since they leave out crucial facts that might shape how a royal is remembered. In these cases, royal biopics completely misrepresent the past.From Shakespeare's plays to Hollywood biopics, the lives of royals throughout history have always made for compelling drama. But good movies are rarely good history lessons.

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Lists about some of the most extraordinary women who made history, forever changing the world and how we see it.

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Elizabeth I of England

Queen Elizabeth I was not just one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-enlightened-leaders-in-world-history/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">most significant rulers in English history</a> - she was also an amazing queen who defied expectations. Even within the storied English monarchy, Elizabeth stands out. She proved to the early modern world that women could be exceptional rulers.

The England that Elizabeth inherited in 1558 was a troubled one. Her father, Henry VIII, had done what no other monarch&nbsp;had done before him -&nbsp;he expanded the monarchy by breaking with the Catholic Church and making England a Protestant country. That religious rupture with Europe had profound effects and led to conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. Torn apart by instability, England badly needed a strong ruler to steer the direction of its future. After&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/british-monarchy-history-causes-of-death/info-lists" target="_blank">her father&#39;s passing</a>&nbsp;and a number of short-lived successors,&nbsp;Elizabeth took&nbsp;the throne. Elizabeth - a young woman who was never supposed to be queen -&nbsp;was up to the task.

In her 44 years on the throne, she helped bring peace, stability, confidence, and wealth to her people. She charted a middle way in politics and religion and ensured that England remained independent in the face of turmoil on the European continent. Under Elizabeth&rsquo;s leadership, England&rsquo;s maritime destiny was laid out&nbsp;and explorers dipped their toes into the so-called New World.

To this day, Elizabeth remains a standout in the British royal family and deserves her <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-all-time-greatest-people-in-history/alan-smithee?ref=also_ranked&amp;pos=1&amp;a=0&amp;ltype=n&amp;l=2239085&amp;g=1" target="_blank">place in history as one of the greatest</a>.

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Why Queen Elizabeth I Was The Most Hardcore Ruler England Has Ever Seen

Why Elizabeth I Was a Badass Queen

Why Queen Elizabeth I Was The Most Badass Ruler England Has Ever Seen

Get to know the fascinating family headed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and comprised of her four children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren—some of whom may someday become the King of England.

The Royal Family

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

Many remember Queen Elizabeth II&#39;s&nbsp;mother as an affectionate parent who patiently, cheerfully stood by her daughter through thick and thin. But the life of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/queen-mother-small-poignant-details/gordon-cameron" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth</a> the Queen Mother was a lot more colorful than most people knew. Both as a queen in her own right and eventually as a royal mother, Elizabeth became one of the most beloved - yet polarizing - Windsors in history.

Born on August 4, 1900, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was a member of one of Scotland&#39;s most illustrious noble families. In 1923, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/who-married-into-the-british-royal-family/setareh-janda" target="_blank">she married Prince Albert</a>,&nbsp;second son of King George V. But when Albert&#39;s older brother abdicated the throne to&nbsp;marry <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-wallis-simpson-mistress-prince-edward-abdication/setareh-janda" target="_blank">the love of his life</a>, the royal spotlight pivoted to Bowes-Lyon&nbsp;and her husband.&nbsp;

Suddenly, the fate of the monarchy rested on their shoulders, and&nbsp;they&nbsp;became&nbsp;King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. After leading the country through World War II, George VI tragically died in 1952, and Bowes-Lyon&nbsp;went from the Queen to the Queen Mother, as her eldest daughter inherited the throne and became <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-queen-of-england-facts/carly-silver" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth II</a>.

Though remembered as a grandmotherly figure&nbsp;to the United Kingdom, Bowes-Lyon&nbsp;wasn&#39;t always the cheery, loyal, and steady royal mum of popular imagination. In fact, her biography revealed a far more interesting - and controversial - story that has earned her both fans and detractors.

Elizabeth II's Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Was As Feared As She Was Loved

Elizabeth II's Mother Was As Feared As She Was Loved

Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Elisabeth of Austria&nbsp;was one of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-warrior-queens-in-history/carly-silver">most powerful monarchs</a> of the 19th century. Remarkably beautiful, Elisabeth, nicknamed Sisi, defied Austrian court traditions. She traveled often and became a beloved figure in both Austria and Hungary.&nbsp;Elisabeth was very concerned with her looks; she engaged in strange beauty rituals and aggressive exercise routines. Elisabeth's iconoclastic ways resulted in&nbsp;her bizarre death at the hands of an anarchist.

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The Tragic Life Of Elisabeth Of Austria

Phil Gibbons

Kings & queens, princes & princesses. They're made of blood and bones like the rest of us, but they're told they can do whatever they damn well please. Sometimes, this causes problems.

Royal Pains

Queen Victoria

Despite the fact that she was quite tiny, Queen Victoria&nbsp;looms large over most&nbsp;of the 19th century. She was every bit a woman of her time, engaging in the overblown sentimentality and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/odd-victorian-mourning-rituals/amandasedlakhevener">culture of death</a> so pervasive during the age that bears her name. When she died at 81, the queen left secret, detailed instructions on how to handle her body and what items to place in her coffin. There are, indeed, a number of&nbsp;strange Queen Victoria&nbsp;death&nbsp;facts worth exploring.Victorians had something of an obsession with death and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/victorian-death-and-mourning-customs/lisa-waugh">death rituals</a>. One reason this was true was because people of the era literally lived in close proximity to death. Aspects of the Industrial Revolution shortened life expectancy, even in an age when 40 was considered old. Dead bodies were cleaned and prepared for burial by family members, and the corpses were put in their parlors for viewing.&nbsp;Friends and loved ones created jewelry made from the hair of the deceased;&nbsp;furniture and doorways were draped in black crepe;&nbsp;and even photos were taken of the dead, dressed and seated in chairs with other family members, as though they were still alive. Or families would gather for photos, all dressed in black,&nbsp;around a portrait of the dearly departed, sorrowful looks on every face.&nbsp;Death and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/collections/life-after-death">all that came with it</a> hovered far more closely to the living than it does today.This was also the age of Romanticism, an artistic, literary, and cultural tradition that focused on both the natural and unnatural world. Some Victorians expressed a strong interest in the paranormal, the spectral, and otherworldly. Sentimentality and emotion also held sway during the 19th century. It's no wonder, really, that Queen Victoria's death wishes were anything but simple.

The Morbidly Creepy And Straight Up Weird Contents Of Queen Victoria's Coffin

The Morbidly Creepy Contents Of Queen Victoria's Coffin

Cheryl Adams Richkoff

Us common folk love discussing and learning about the lives of royalty. That is why there are so many movies about English queens. Our fascination with royalty varies from the roles a king or queen has played in history, to what their palace is like, what love interests they had, and what political differences they made during their reign. The news is constantly full of stories about the Royal Family and it’s no wonder that so many great movies have been made the life of royalty! What are the best movies about queens? Vote up the best below and see where your favorite queen films rank.The movies on this list discuss the life of queens in one way or another. Most of the flicks featured here are more literal and biographical in nature, though some are completely fictional stories about fictional queens. Perhaps the most famous queen featured in several of these movies is Queen Elizabeth of England. Cate Blanchett has <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/queen-elizabeth-actors/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">played the queen</a> multiple times.This list features <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-queen-songs/voteable?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best queen</a> movies, including: Elizabeth, One Night with the King, The Princess Diaries, Anastasia, The Other Boleyn Girl, Mad Love, and The Young Victoria. Vote up the best films below or add a film about a queen that you love if it isn't already on the list. Then check out these other <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film" target="_blank">royal movies</a>.

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The Best Movies About Queens

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Who are the best actors who have played royals? One tried-and-true pathway to success for actors in Hollywood is by <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-should-play-english-royals/quinn-armstrong" target="_blank">playing a royal</a>, since many actors who played royals have received critical acclaim and accolades for their performances. For example, several actresses who have played royalty - including&nbsp;Olivia Colman, Helen Mirren, and Judi Dench - have won Oscars, Golden Globes, and Emmys. Likewise, some of the best royals actors - like Colin Firth, among others - have earned award recognition&nbsp;for their work.

Each actor approaches his or her royal&nbsp;role differently. Some actors who have played kings, and actresses who have played queens, use their prep time to undertake extensive historical research, while others evaluate historical figures just like any other character. But all&nbsp;have the challenge of portraying historical figures in a unique way, since many royals have been played by several different actors over the years.

Vote up the actors who did the best job bringing historical royals to life.

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The Best Actors Who Played Historical Royals On Film & Television

Actors Who Played Real Royals In Movies & TV, Ranked

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Scandals always captivate the public, and British royal family scandals are the cream of the crop, proving the family is not exempt from the grip of impropriety and public embarrassment. Until 2022, the modern royal family, the Windsors, was headed by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-queen-of-england-facts/carly-silver">Queen Elizabeth II</a>, the longest-reigning queen England has ever had. Her children, unfortunately, have borne the brunt of numerous scandals over the years:&nbsp;The former p<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/stories-about-prince-andrew/setareh-janda">rince Andrew</a> Mountbatten&nbsp;Windsor allegedly slept with a 17-year-old sex slave and was relieved of all his royal duties; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-prince-charles-almost-destroyed-british-monarchy/cleo-egnal">Prince Charles</a> had a salacious affair that was highly publicized; and Princess Anne, who was once nearly <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/attempted-kidnapping-of-princess-anne/cleo-egnal">kidnapped</a>, was besieged by adultery rumors concerning her ex-husband. Of course, scandal is not new to the royal family. Queen Elizabeth's uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated his throne to marry a divorcee, and the story of the love affair between&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-of-princess-margaret/melissa-sartore">Princess Margaret</a>&nbsp;and Peter Townsend,&nbsp;a married man, was huge news during the '50s.&nbsp;This list details the most sordid and highly publicized scandals the Windsors have experienced in modern history.

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A Definitive List Of The Most Famous Scandals From The Modern British Royal Family

The Biggest Scandals From The Modern British Royal Family

Cleo Egnal

British Monarchy

If you come from a family as old as the British&nbsp;royal family, it&#39;s not too much of a surprise that there will be centuries of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/french-court-etiquette/setareh-janda" target="_blank">traditions, customs, and rules</a> put in place that are still adhered to today. Some of these make sense and are rooted in history, but others are very specific and just plain weird, even though they are <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-royal-family-facts/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">true</a>&nbsp;(and sometimes <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/times-royals-broke-protocol/garri-chaverst" target="_blank">royals break them</a>).

From their very particular&nbsp;eating habits to their <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/rules-and-regulations-for-a-royal-british-wedding/shonna-wright" target="_blank">way of dressing</a> to some rather dark&nbsp;customs that have lasted through the ages, the following list showcases the weirdest <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-crown-princess-diana-rules-traditions/tracey-graham" target="_blank">rules the royal family has to follow</a>.

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The Weirdest Rules The Royal Family Has To Follow

The 13 Weirdest Rules The Royal Family Has To Follow

Eric Eidelstein

<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-lavish-dowries-in-history/carly-silver" target="_blank">Royal weddings</a> over the last century have run the gamut. They’ve ranged from quiet&nbsp;partnerships&nbsp;to over-the-top royal weddings in Westminster Abbey that have ended in heartbreak. The royal marriages of the last 100 years have been as varied, fascinating, romantic, and troubled as the people who have married into the royal family - and they've had mixed success.Can royalty marry commoners? Absolutely.&nbsp;While the public generally assumes that royals are only supposed to marry other royals, there are plenty of Cinderella stories in the last 100 years that turn that notion on its head.&nbsp;The children and grandchildren of monarchs have married both elites and people from more humble backgrounds. Prior to 2018, the last commoner to marry British Royalty was Catherine Middleton in 2011, but that title has gone to Meghan Markle when she wed&nbsp;Prince Harry in 2018. In fact, it is becoming more and more common for royals -&nbsp;both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere -&nbsp;to opt for common spouses over royal ones. Though members of the British Royal Family have had to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/rules-and-regulations-for-a-royal-british-wedding/shonna-wright" target="_blank">seek the monarch’s permission before marrying</a> - thanks to the Royal Marriages Act of 1774, which wasn’t repealed until 2013 - they have increasingly chosen to marry&nbsp;outsiders.&nbsp;Indeed, people who have married into the British Royal Family have come from all walks of life: artists, athletes, attention-seekers, and homebodies have all joined the House of Windsor.

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Every Person Who Married Into The Royal Family In The Last Century, Ranked

Middle Ages

Encounters with monarchs were not reserved for the rich and powerful alone, but did medieval peasants ever meet their lords? Surprisingly, they sometimes did.

&quot;Commoners&quot;&nbsp;denotes a large group of men and women who didn&#39;t have noble titles. This included everyone from wealthy merchants to peasants who struggled to make ends meet. Surviving records reveal that medieval monarchs had encounters with these commoners - though it&#39;s hard to get a sense of what exactly commoners thought of these meetings. Were they cynical, excited, or indifferent about them?

Sometimes these interactions were highly formal and happened during rituals; other encounters were casual and connected to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-was-daily-life-like-medieval-royalty/setareh-janda" target="_blank">monarchs&#39; daily lives</a>. Regardless of the nature of the meetings, medieval commoners brushed shoulders with royalty in many different ways.

Going Medieval

What It Was Really Like When Medieval Commoners Met Their Kings And Queens

Weird History

<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-british-royal-family-facts/alby-thompson" target="_blank">Historical royals</a> are a source&nbsp;of fascination for many -&nbsp;maybe that&#39;s why there&#39;s an abundance of movies and TV shows dedicated to some of the most interesting royals in history. But what about the stuff that Hollywood doesn&#39;t cover? The <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-royals-facts-2020/alby-thompson" target="_blank">facts about historical royals</a> that aren&#39;t big enough to earn a spot in&nbsp;a multi-season series or two-hour movie? The <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/" target="_blank">Today I Learned</a> subreddit is a place where those kinds of facts thrive.&nbsp;

The collection of facts below, which includes&nbsp;details on how&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/royal-family-ancestry/garri-chaverst" target="_blank">modern British royal family is related to historical royals</a>, comprises&nbsp;some of the strangest things to know about history&#39;s most famous royals.

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16 Facts About Historical Royals We Just Learned That Made Us Say 'Whoa'

16 Historical Royals Facts We Just Learned That Made Us Say 'Whoa'

Garri Chaverst

History

Kings seem like they should be noble leaders that we can look up to, but in reality, many of them have pretty weird personalities. With strange requests, questionable romances, and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-royalty-quotes-that-sound-fake-but-are-true/setareh-janda" target="_blank">peculiar quotes</a>, many historical monarchs weren&#39;t quite as&nbsp;regal as we&#39;ve imagined. But at least their unusual legacies keep history exciting for younger generations.

Many of these weird stories about kings seem&nbsp;too farfetched to believe, but then again, they&#39;re too bizarre for someone to make up.

Facts About Historical Kings That Sound Made Up - But Aren’t

Facts  About Historical Kings That Sound Made Up – But Aren’t

Molly Weinfurter

Royalty lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of royalty lists and rankings