Has a g*y Royal ever come out of the closet?

Question

When I say closet I mean a really good one made by a top carpenter.

Answer 1

Kings and princes have ordinarily married to perpetuate the royal bloodline; however, two English kings and a 20th-century English prince stand out historicallly as possible homosexuals or bisexuals because their attraction to the same s*x was well-known in their own life times.

Richard I (or Richard the Lionheart) served as the Central Christian Commander during the Third Crusade.  Most of his adult life he was surrounded by soldiers, so his attraction to men may have been out of necessity.  Nevertheless, a contemporary chronicler, Roger of Hovedon, writes of the Jonathan-David relationship between Richard and Philip II of France: the two "ate from the same dish and at night slept in the same bed" and had "a passionate love between them".

Returning from the Holy Land, Richard married Berengarie, the oldest daughter of King Sancho of Navarre.  The two were separated, and Richard captured, but upon contemplating his return to England, the Church ordered Richard to show fidelity to Berengarie and "to remember the destruction of Sodom and abstain from illicit acts."  Richard had already been accused of raping women, so this could possibly be a reference to that accusation.

During James I's youth in Scotland, he was praised for his chasity since he had little interest in women.  He did, however, share a passionate affair with a male favorite, Esme Stewart, later first Duke of Lenox.  James, nevertheless, married and fathered three chilldren who survived infancy.  He was at first infatuiated with Anne of Denmark, although he did have a mistress, Anne Murray, later Lady Glamis.  

Throughout James's life both in Scotland before his ascent to the English throne and thereafter, James enjoyed the favors of a series of courtiers:  Esme Stewart, Robert Carr, the first Earl of Somerset, and George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham.  He called Buckingham his "wife", but he also vehemently disavowed engaging in homosexual acts.  Popular doggrel from the streets of London spoke of a king who was also a queen.

Finally, Prince George, the Duke of Kent (1902-1942), had numerous affairs with both men and women, although he was married as well (to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark) and sired three chilldren. Among the Duke of Kent's lovers was the actor, Noel Coward, with whom he had a 19-year-affair.

Perhaps since royalty doesn't suffer from the social restraints or the economic necessity that most members of society suffer from, kings and princes have felt free to engage in sexual liaisons without fear of censure with both men and women outside the sanction of marriage.

Answer 2

Yes one has...but he is not English...his name is Prince Manvendra of Gujarat he is a prince of India.

Answer 3

Are you talking about the Viscount David Linley -  g*y s*x- with- a- servant  /drugs/ extortion/blackmail scandal that hit the headlines in April 2008 but was played down... and Buckingham Palace refused to comment ....and there was a media ban .....so I had to email my American friend to send me American news links about it ???   It was a fab closet he was pushed out of though ...

Answer 4

Could this be leading up to you coming out soon? I'm sure a lot of people are wondering .I can't think of one Royal, either in the UK or abroad at the moment.Edit it's too bad you banned John T from answering your very biased questions, I'm sure he could have helped you answer this one. Edit you have to be kidding about swipes that's all you do.

Answer 5

I can think of two. Edward and Linley and both are silent.

Answer 6

They can't. It'll create big problems for them.

Answer 7

Don't forget Edward the 2nd. (Son of Edward Longshanks).

He was well known to be g*y which caused many problems politically.  He did marry the princess of France,  but out of need for treaty than any love.

He was imprisoned in Barkley Castle where he was murdered by some nobles with a red hot poker.

I won't be vulgar with the details, but they must have thought 'If he likes it there, this should be smokin'!'  If you get my drift.

Answer 8

I can't exactly remember the names of them, because I read the book awhile ago and a friend of mine has it right now, but if you want to read about g*y royals read the book "A Treasury of Royal Scandals" by Michael Farquhar. It's a really good book and tells of some g*y royals.

Answer 9

Not willingly .. but if you`re taking bets hun .. my money`s on Eddie and Linley ...x