Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022. The monarch reigned for an impressive 70 years. During this time, she was a calming force as the world evolved with the passage of time. She seemed to embody the British stoicism and World War II phrase “keep calm and carry on.”
This is not to say that her reign did not see its fair share of scandals. During her rule, the monarch had to weather many challenges. As one looks back on Queen Elizabeth’s life, here are some of the scandals she had to endure.
1. When King Edward VIII Abdicated the Throne
The first scandal happened before Elizabeth was even crowned. She was never supposed to be queen. Her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry the love of his life, American divorcée Wallis Simpson. This caused Elizabeth's father to become King George VI and her to be his heir.
2. Ties to the Nazi party
Her uncle’s disruptions would not stop there. His admiration for Adolf Hitler would haunt the royal family for years. He even visited Hitler at his vacation home in 1937 with new wife Wallis. He attempted to teach a young Elizabeth how to do the Nazi salute.
The royal family has German heritage. This means some of their descendants were members of the Nazi Party. They were once known as the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. They changed their name to the House of Windsor during the First World War.
3. Claims of Racism
The royal family has been accused of racism over the years. In 2017, when Meghan Markle was meeting the extended family for the first time, Princess Michael of Kent wore a blackamoor brooch. Blackamoor is a style of art from the 18th century that portrays black people as slaves.
In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan and Harry claimed racism was part of the reason they decided to stop being working members of the royal family. They said an unnamed member of the family speculated on what color their children would be. They have yet to name who that family member is.
4. 'Annus Horribilis'
Queen Elizabeth’s children and their spouses were often the cause of many of the scandals Her Majesty faced. Much of this occurred in 1992, which would become known as “annus horribilis” — Latin for a horrible year.
Elizabeth's son Prince Andrew was once known as “Randy Andy” because of his womanizing ways. His then-wife Sarah Ferguson made headlines when a picture of her was published showing US financial advisor John Bryan sucking her toes. Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, separated and eventually divorced wife Diana amid rumors of infidelity. Princess Anne divorced her first husband, Mark Phillips, as well.
5. The Death of Princess Diana
Thankfully, the Queen got through her horrible year. More scandal came in 1997, when Princess Diana tragically died at the age of 36. The public wanted leadership from the Queen. The Queen thought this issue was a private family matter and was solely focused on her grandchildren. She eventually emerged and helped the country mourn Diana’s death.
6. Megxit
More recent scandals include Harry and Meghan’s decision to no longer be working members of the royal family. It’s been nicknamed Megxit. Tensions still seem to be high over this. Meghan and Harry were seemingly snubbed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
7. Prince Andrew's Sexual Assault Accusations
Prince Andrew also recently caused scandal with his friendship with the late Jeffery Epstein. Andrew is accused of sexually assaulting a minor, Virginia Roberts Giuffre. He denies this, but there are very damning photographs of the pair together. As a result, the Queen stripped him of his royal duties and titles.
Despite all of these difficult events, Queen Elizabeth persisted and endured. She was the longest-reigning British monarch on the throne. She appointed 15 prime ministers to lead the British government. Her impressive legacy will live on, flaws and all.
