Rogue Princes From British History

Royalty often carries a weight of responsibility, privilege, and social notoriety that can be difficult to handle, especially for young princes who have yet to understand how to deal with the pressures of being highborn. While some princes patiently wait around for their turn to become king, others have gone rogue and become embroiled in scandals that shocked the world. Here are five times British princes did things that are worse than writing a tell-all book. 

1. Prince Albert Victor  Prince Albert Victor (1864–1892), Duke of Clarence and Avondale, was the oldest son of Queen Victoria’s heir, Prince Edward. Despite being one of the most eligible bachelors in Europe, he struggled to find a wife. One prospect, Princess Alix, turned him down to marry Tsar Nicholas II.  According to historians, his affection for several other women and men might have played a role in the numerous rejections. When he passed away from pneumonia, the gossip about him did not stop as some have even suggested he may have been Jack the Ripper. 

2. Prince Robert Curthose Prince Robert Curthose (c. 1050–1134) was the son of William the Conqueror, who started a rebellion when he felt his father had not sufficiently punished his brothers for a prank. Robert was on the receiving end of the smelly contents of a chamberpot. With the help of his friends, he attacked Rouen castle. When the attack failed, Robert fled, but King William came after him with an army. Robert allied with another nobleman to wreak havoc, so William allied with the king of France to bring down his rogue son. Still, when William passed away, he left his lands in Normandy to Robert. Years later, Robert rebelled against his brother, who had been made king of England. 

3. Frederick, Prince of Wales In the 18th century, the United Kingdom came close to having a King Frederick, but it never came to fruition. Frederick (1707 - 1751), the son and heir of George II, was widely regarded as a failure, even by his own mother, who called him “the greatest liar  and the greatest beast in the whole world.” Frederick refused to comply with his parent’s political views, instead setting up his own court and courting opposition politicians. Understandably, this caused a rift in the royal family. When Frederick appealed to Parliament for funds because his father stopped supporting him, they refused. When Frederick passed, allegedly after being hit by a cricket ball, very few people were invited to his funeral. 

4. Prince Henry the Young King Henry II (1155 - 1183) had many problems with his sons, particularly with his namesake, Henry the Young King. It began when Henry II crowned his son while still alive. This led to conflict as the young king wanted to inherit some of the domains his father was unwilling to give up. When Henry II gave three castles to his other son, John, Henry the Young King rebelled by joining forces with his brothers Richard and Geoffrey and the French king. They lost, and Henry pardoned the rebellious son. Henry, the Young King, passed away of dysentery.

 5. Prince George IV George (1762 - 1830), heir to George III, was known for his poor character and behavior. Described as a “bad son, a bad husband, a bad father, and a bad monarch,” George was obsessed with women. During an affair with Maria Fitzherbert, the prince even threatened to end his life if she refused to marry him. They got marry, but because she was Catholic and they did not have the king’s permission, it was done in secret. The prince’s more public marriage came about as a result of his enormous debts. Parliament would only pay them off if he got married, so he wed Caroline of Brunswick, which was a disaster.