Royal Family - Facts, History, Trivia, Quizzes, and More

Queen Victoria wore a lot of black after her husband's death.

Royals from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana have left their mark on the world of fashion.

Members of the royal family attending the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

It all began in 1952 when then-Princess Elizabeth was caught without a black outfit when the circumstances called for one.

Over the past 900-plus years, more than 30 monarchs have called Windsor Castle home. It has also been the site of several royal weddings—including Prince Harry's 2018 nuptials to Meghan Markle.

These are the most popular aristocratic baby names in 2025, from Amelia to George

History is full of sweeping love affairs, from Antony and Cleopatra to Catherine the Great and Grigory Potemkin and many more. Discover some of the most passionate here.

This giraffe was a gift to King Charles X.

Exotic beasts functioned as both diplomatic envoys and as symbols of a monarchy’s far reaching influence.

King Edward VIII is far from the only monarch to reject their rule.

A gold coin depicting Mithradates VI Eupator.

The 1st century BCE king of Pontus, a kingdom on the Black Sea coast, earned his nickname by creating poisons and antidotes—and testing them on himself.

From Ivan the Terrible to Herod the Great, these historical figures weren’t the best relatives.

The transition from radio to a televised broadcast marked a new era for the monarchy.

The Tower of London as seen from the River Thames.

The Tower of London inspires awe, fear, and intrigue. Here are seven facts you may not know about the iconic British fortress.

This scene depicts several Christmas traditions with long histories.

From expecting Santa to fill socks with gifts to eating cake that looks like tree bark, some holiday traditions are downright odd. But we can explain!

A detail of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I painted to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada (depicted in the background).

She spoke multiple languages, defeated Spain’s powerful navy, and never accepted a marriage proposal. Discover more fascinating facts about Queen Elizabeth I and her reign.

Was King George IV the real “Georgie Porgie”?

“Georgie Porgie, pudding and pie / Kissed the girls and made them cry.”

Trying to sell your Princess Diana Beanie Baby? She probably isn’t worth as much as you hope—here’s why.

Jack Sprat could refer to two historical royals.

Although “Jack Sprat” may not be in the nursery rhyme limelight, the two theories behind its meaning—both of which involve royalty—are just as interesting as the origins of better-known rhymes.

The preserved hull of the Tudor warship ‘Mary Rose.’

King Henry VIII built the English Royal Navy around his favorite warship, the ‘Mary Rose,’ which sank under mysterious circumstances in 1545.

Queen Elizabeth II sometimes went by Sharon.

When she was trying to fly under the radar, Queen Elizabeth II went by the name ‘Sharon.’

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington approved a plan to kidnap Prince William Henry, a son of King George III.

Charlemagne gazes at his cathedral at Aachen, wondering how he’s going to divvy up his kingdom among 20 kids.

Charlemagne, the 7th-century king of the Franks, had about 20 children who went on to establish Europe’s royal houses and populate most of Europe.

What happened in these deaths is far from clear.

Explorers who vanished off the face of the earth. Conquerors, composers, and scientists who expired from strange illnesses. People tantalizingly close to power who wound up dead. When it comes to these deaths, we might never know what really happened.