Caroline was born into old money, and married into the richest new money family in the world. She became the ultimate Queen bee, determining who was and was NOT part of the illustrious 400, the high society of gilded age New York. A coveted invitation to one of her balls was the ultimate achievement for social climbers. Those left off the list might as well catch the next train to Toledo. Like her parties, her feuds were the stuff of legend and sparked major developments in New York City real es...
Jun 24, 2025•29 min
Sexuality and gender politics have differed from culture to culture and age to age throughout history. The concept of homosexuality as an identity only emerged in the 20th century. Prior to that gay and lesbian relationships and activities were commonplace but were thought of as something one did rather than part of one’s identity. There have been many historic figures who are noted to have preferred their own gender for romance and sex. Here are the stories of 5 rulers from ancient to modern ti...
Jun 17, 2025•20 min
The Queens and Consorts of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and later the Windsor Dynasty reined over the United Kingdom and the British Empire. They sometimes spurred on and sometimes resisted the modernization of the world. They inspired their people and even fought during two world Wars. The modern Queens consort and male consorts were: Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Alexandra of Denmark Mary of Teck Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Philip of Greece and Denmark Camilla Shand The lives of the many Kings and han...
Jun 10, 2025•38 min
The German Hanoverian Queens of Great Britain and later the United Kingdom had some of the most epic royal matrimonial brawls in history. One brought enlightenment thinking to court. One was dear friends with Marie Antoinette and endured her husband’s decades of madness. And one got locked out of her husband’s coronation. The Hanoverian Queens consort were: Sophia Dorothea of Celle (not technically a Queen but we have to talk about the wife who was imprisoned for life after her lover was murdere...
Jun 03, 2025•33 min
The Stuart Queens and consorts of England and later Great Britain indulged in art, theater and culture. One lost her crown when her husband lost his head. And most had to look the other way while their spouses carried on with their many lovers. The Stuart Queens consort and male consort were: Anne of Denmark Henrietta Maria of France Catherine of Braganza Mary of Modena George of Denmark The lives of the many Kings and handful of Queens Regnant who have held dominion over the kingdom of England,...
May 27, 2025•33 min
The first Tudor Queen of England helped to end the Wars of the Roses. Her son, Henry VIII took six Queens during his reign and beheaded two of them. Lady Jane Grey and Mary I both had husbands who claimed the title of King while Elizabeth I avoided the whole matrimonial mess. The Tudor Queens consort and male consorts were: Elizabeth of York Catherine of Aragon Anne Boleyn Jane Seymour Anne of Cleves Catherine Howard Catherine Parr Guildford Dudley Philip of Spain The lives of the many Kings and...
May 20, 2025•27 min
The Queens of England who were tangled in the brambles of the Wars of the Roses fought tooth and nail for their rights and the rights of their families. The Queens consort of the Wars of the Roses were: Anne of Bohemia Isabella of Valois Joan of Navarre Catherine of Valois Margaret of Anjou Elizabeth Woodville Anne Neville The lives of the many Kings and handful of Queens Regnant who have held dominion over the kingdom of England, and later the United Kingdom take center stage in history. But th...
May 13, 2025•29 min
The Plantagenet Queens of England reigned over the middle ages. Some went on crusade, some marched to battle alongside their kings and one overthrew her husband and took control of England herself. The Plantagenet Queens consort were: Berengaria of Navarre Isabella of Angoulême Eleanor of Provence Eleanor of Castile Margaret of France Isabella of France Philippa of Hainault The lives of the many Kings and handful of Queens Regnant who have held dominion over the kingdom of England, and later the...
May 06, 2025•29 min
The Norman Queens of England who came to power after the invasion of William the Conqueror brought continental sophistication to the island kingdom. They fought fiercely for their rights and the rights of their children. One even went to wara against her husband. The Norman Queens consort and England’s first male consort were: Matilda of Flanders Matilda of Scotland Adeliza of Louvain Matilda of Boulogne Geoffrey Plantagenet Eleanor of Aquitaine The lives of the many Kings and handful of Queens ...
Apr 29, 2025•20 min
The first Anglo-Saxon Queens of England before the Norman conquest are shrouded in the mists of history. Their stories read like fairytales and in fact one of them inspired the evil stepmother. The Anglo-Saxon Queen Consorts were: Ælfgifu of Shaftesbury Æthelflæd of Damerham Ælfgifu Ælfthryth of Devon Ælfgifu of York Emma of Normandy Ealdgyth Edith of Wessex Ealdgyth of Mercia The lives of the many Kings and handful of Queens Regnant who have held dominion over the kingdom of England, and later ...
Apr 22, 2025•21 min
On the night of April 14, 1912, 2,224 people faced doom in the middle of the fridge north Atlantic. The luxury liner hailed as unsinkable was about to do just that and disappear beneath the waves. The tragedy has long captured the public imagination with heroic tales of millionaire John Jacob Astor going down with the ship like a gentleman and fictionalized romances about people who weren’t really on board. Today lets met a handful of the real women who were on board that terrible night. We’ll l...
Apr 15, 2025•32 min
Charles II, King of England, Scotland & Ireland from 1660 to 1685 is one of the most notorious lotharios in history. He loved the ladies and took both noble women and commoner actresses to bed, sometimes multiple times a day. And the ladies were certainly up for it. In addition to enjoying the charming sovereign’s company, they also enjoyed the gifts, estates, and noble titles he lavished upon them and their children. Last week we met Charles’s 14 known mistresses. Today we’ll meet the resul...
Apr 08, 2025•33 min
Charles II, King of England, Scotland & Ireland from 1660 to 1685 is one of the most notorious lotharios in history. The swarthy sovereign started early and continued making love, sometimes multiple times a day, until the week he died at 54. His court was famous for it’s flagrant hedonism and he took both noble ladies and commoner actresses to bed. The women were certainly up for it. They took advantage of the charming King’s affections to gain wealth and power they would never have had acce...
Apr 01, 2025•33 min
I have been enchanted by Disney since childhood. And as an adult, whenever I’m watching any movie or TV show, I can’t help but play “Where do I know that actor from?” Thank you, IMDB for making my adult life that little bit easier. One of my first forays into content creation, way back in 2014 was a series I made called “Disney Doppelgangers” where I compare two or more famous animated Disney characters who are voiced by or modeled after the same actor. Alice and Wendy; the Queen of Hearts &...
Mar 25, 2025•35 min
I have been enchanted by Disney since childhood. And as an adult, whenever I’m watching any movie or TV show, I can’t help but play “Where do I know that actor from?” Thank you, IMDB for making my adult life that little bit easier. One of my first forays into content creation, way back in 2014 was a series I made called “Disney Doppelgangers” where I compare two or more famous animated Disney characters who are voiced by or modeled after the same actor. Maleficent and the wicked stepmother; Cind...
Mar 18, 2025•34 min
Gráinne Ní Mháille known as Grace O’Malley in English was raised aboard her father’s ships. Her charisma then won her the loyalty of her husband’s men. Together they traded and marauded the rouged west coast of Ireland. They feuded with other clans until the English came to take over the nation. Gráinne and her English nemesis nearly destroyed each other until she went over his head and met directly with Queen Elizabeth I to get a royal sanctioned piracy license. Join me every Tuesday when I'm S...
Mar 11, 2025•29 min
When Queen Elizabeth II and her family went on vacation, they didn’t fly coach or take a carnival cruise. They traveled in style aboard Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia. The Queen designed the ship herself the year of her coronation. This was her favorite place to be, where she could truly unwind. I recently had the opportunity to tour this historic yacht in Edinburgh, Scotland. And to talk with the Yotties who served the Queen while she traveled the world. Let’s explore this floating time capsule,...
Mar 04, 2025•33 min
Leeds Castle has been called the loveliest castle in England and it certainly lives up to the name. The elegant stone keep, towers, and crenelated battlements surrounded by a tranquil moat, beautiful gardens and lush parkland are exactly what you would picture as an idealized medieval castle. Across the centuries, it has often been strong women who have owned, enjoyed, renovated and defended Leeds castle. It was the tranquil retreat for generations of medieval Queens, the scene of a deadly stand...
Feb 25, 2025•31 min
In the last episode we met 7 living former monarchs who chose to retire, hand their thrones to their children and enjoy their golden years. But not all living former monarchs chose to get off the throne, some were pushed off. In the 20th century, 28 national-level monarchies across the world were abolished. Their former sovereigns were downgraded, exiled or even executed. As the majority of these revolutions and coups happened in the first half of the century, few ex monarchs are still alive tod...
Feb 18, 2025•28 min
Queen Elizabeth II considered abdication to be a dirty word. She remained on the throne until her death at 96, and left her son Charles to waiting 73 years to take the job he was born to. But abdication is not so despised in other countries. In recent decades more monarchs have elected to retire and pass the throne on to the next generation. Thus allowing them to spend their golden years relaxing and enjoying their ridiculously well-funded retirement plans. Plus we’ll find out what an ex monarch...
Feb 11, 2025•46 min
Yaa Asantewaa rose to become a Queen mother in the Asante Kingdom in what is modern day Ghana. But when the King was captured and exiled by the British, she refused to hand over the sacred golden stool. She gave a powerful speech inspiring women and men to rise up and fight the British colonizers and was appointed head of the Asante army. First, let’s set the stage with a brief history of the Asante Kingdom and culture. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my You...
Feb 06, 2025•27 min
In September 2022 Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge became Princess of Wales, the title previously held by her late mother in law, Diana. Let’s meet the 16 Princesses of Wales, both Native Welsh and English royal... Joan, Lady of Wales Isabella de Braose Eleanor de Montfort Elizabeth Ferrers Joan of Kent Margaret Hanmer Anne Neville Catherine of Aragon Caroline of Ansbach Augusta of Saxe-Gotha Caroline of Brunswick Alexandra of Denmark Mary of Teck Lady Diana Spenser Camilla Shand Catherine Middle...
Jan 28, 2025•32 min
Louis XIV, King of France from 1638 to 1715 was, like all French Kings, expected to have many lovers to prove his virility. And as could be expected in a time before reliable birth control, he also had large a crop of illegitimate children. Last week we met 13 of Louis’ mistresses. Today we’ll meet the 16 resulting offspring: Marie Anne de Bourbon Louis, Count of Vermandois Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine Louis César, Count of Vexin Louise Françoise de Bourbon Françoise Marie de Bourbon Louis Alexa...
Jan 21, 2025•30 min
Louis XIV, King of France from 1638 to 1715, ruled over the court at Versailles with the sheer magnetism of his personality. All were desperate to be in the light of the sun king. His image was paramount to maintaining his place at the center of the Universe. The 5’4” monarch wore high heels and voluminous wigs. And he made sure the world knew he was a virile man with plenty of mistresses. While at least 20 women came and went from his majesty’s bed, he was emotionally devoted to 3 women in succ...
Jan 14, 2025•32 min
Empress Wu Zetian rose from royal concubine to become the only female ruler in China’s 2,000 years of imperial history. Today she is seen as ruthless, tyrannical and willing to murder her own family to hold onto the throne. However this female leader has suffered from a millennium of bad propaganda. Many of the shocking and devious actions she took to claim and hold power overshadow the good she did for her people. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube ...
Jan 07, 2025•22 min
The Most Noble Order of the Garter sneaks into so many of my videos. Nearly ever significant member of the English and British royal family since the 1300s, and a number of foreign royals have been knights or ladies of the garter. And the symbols of the order can be spotted in SO. MANY. ROYAL. PORTRAITS. if you know where to look. Most recently the order made an appearance in pop culture when William, Prince of Wales and other senior royal men wore garter robes to the coronation of King Charles ...
Dec 31, 2024•32 min
Throughout history, the cold, dark and hungry winter season had been infused with a certain spooky feeling of dread. Festivals like saturnalia, yule and eventually Christmas brought light to the darkness. But that lingering since of foreboding still underlines the festive season, no mater how much we make merry. Today let’s unearth 3 of my favorite early episodes, all on the theme of Spooky Christmas. In 10 Santa Alternatives from Around the World we’ll meet a Christmas witch from Italy and Kram...
Dec 24, 2024•35 min
Through most of history, monarchs selected wives for their royal blood and political significance. Women they actually liked and were attracted to were relegated to being mere mistresses. These women were usually local aristocrats or even commoners who would not be considered contenders to be consort. The majority of monarchs had mistresses and their wives usually looked the other way, safe in the knowledge that their place as Queen could never be usurped. But a number of royal courtesan did com...
Dec 17, 2024•33 min
Through most of history, Kings selected wives for their royal blood and political significance. Women they actually liked and were attracted to were relegated to being mere mistresses. These women were usually local aristocrats or even commoners who would not be considered contenders to be consort. The majority of monarchs had mistresses and their wives usually looked the other way, safe in the knowledge that their place as Queen could never be usurped. But a number of royal courtesan did come t...
Dec 10, 2024•30 min
Disney Princess Moana may voyage across a fantasy version of the Pacific ocean, and represent an amalgamation of several islands’ cultures. But she is based on many real-life women who have led their people with courage, strength and compassion. From a 13th century Queen of Samoa who protected her people and was revered as a Goddess, to the 27 year old woman who was crowned Queen of the Māori in September 2024. Let’s meet X inspiring real-life Queens from the Pacific Islands. Nafanua, Queen of S...
Dec 03, 2024•33 min
